On Tuesday, March 10^th, the provincial government announced the next phase of its work to modernize Ontario’s conservation authority system, including plans to introduce legislation this spring to consolidate Ontario’s existing conservation authorities into a smaller number of regional entities.

From OHBA:

The Provincial Government has announced the next phase of its work to modernize Ontario’s conservation authority system, including plans to introduce legislation this spring that would significantly restructure how conservation authorities operate across the province.

This announcement follows amendments made in November 2025 to the Conservation Authorities Act, which established the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency with responsibility for providing governance, strategic direction and oversight for conservation authorities. Following those amendments, the province undertook a consultation process through the Environmental Registry of Ontario on proposed regional boundaries and the consolidation of conservation authorities.

OHBA participated in that consultation and provided a formal industry submission outlining the need for improved consistency, clearer governance structures and more efficient permitting processes to better support housing development, respecting local nuances and established relationships while maintaining strong watershed management and natural hazard protection.

According to the government’s announcement, forthcoming legislation would implement the next stage of reform aimed at improving service delivery, reducing duplication and supporting the timely delivery of housing and infrastructure projects.

If passed, the legislation would introduce the following key changes:

• Ontario’s current 36 independent conservation authorities would be consolidated into 9 regional conservation authorities, rather than the 7 that were initially proposed during consultation. The province indicated that the revised model reflects feedback received during the consultation process and better accommodates distinct geographies and development contexts while improving alignment with watersheds and source protection regions.
• The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency would lead the transition to the new model, with consolidation targeted for early 2027.
• Regional conservation authorities would operate under consistent provincial standards to improve service delivery, information sharing and permitting processes.
• Each regional conservation authority would be required to establish one or more local watershed councils to help identify priorities for watershed-based conservation programs and services.
• Conservation authorities would remain municipally governed, with representation from regional municipalities, counties and cities. Lower-tier municipalities within counties would no longer be participating municipalities under this proposed model.
• Consolidation is intended to reduce administrative duplication and allow conservation authorities to focus more resources on front-line watershed management and natural hazard programs.
• The province will provide $3 million in annual funding to support the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency during the transition period. Following the transition, this funding would support regional conservation authorities as they implement program improvements.

The government has also indicated that consolidation will not change the core responsibilities of conservation authorities. Regional conservation authorities would continue to operate as independent, municipally governed organizations responsible for provincially mandated programs including flood and natural hazard management, watershed management, drinking water source protection under the Clean Water Act, and the management of conservation lands and recreational trails.

The transition process is expected to be led by the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency and is intended to ensure continuity of services during the transition period, including conservation authority staffing, permitting processes and existing partnerships.

The province has also released proposed regional boundaries for the new conservation authority structure.

The province has also indicated that stakeholders will be invited to participate in technical briefings in the coming weeks to provide additional information on the transition process and next steps.

OHBA will continue to monitor the government’s legislative proposal closely and will provide further updates to members as the legislation is introduced and details of the transition process become available.

Members can review the proposed regional boundaries here:  Proposed Boundaries for the Regional Consolidation of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities

A map outlining the planned boundaries for the nine regional conservation authorities is also available here: Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency

The full background announcement from the provincial government can be accessed here: Ontario Taking Next Steps to Improve Conservation Authorities