ONTARIO TAKING NEXT STEPS TO IMPROVE CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES
Province consolidating 36 CAs into nine to deliver more consistent services,
strengthen watershed management and better protect communities
March 10, 2026
Ministry of the Environment Conservation and ParksTORONTO — The Ontario government is taking the next step to improve the
province’s conservation authority system with our plan to create nine regional
conservation authorities. This follows extensive consultation on how
conservation authorities can help get shovels in the ground faster on homes and
other local infrastructure projects, while strengthening their vital role in
managing watersheds and protecting communities from floods and natural hazards.
The consolidated regional conservation authorities would reduce administrative
duplication, redirect resources to front-line conservation and modernize
permitting to help the province deliver on its plan to protect Ontario by
cutting red tape and building an economy that is more competitive, resilient and
self-reliant, to help keep workers on the job in the face of tariffs and
economic uncertainty.
“Ontario’s improved approach would feature watershed-based regional conservation
authorities operating under consistent provincial standards, modern tools and
strengthened capacity – delivering stronger watershed management, flood
resilience and better support for housing and infrastructure growth,” said Todd
McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “We listened and
used feedback from last fall’s consultations to refine and strengthen our plan,
including optimizing regional boundaries to better reflect local needs,
knowledge and relationships.”
Ontario’s current system includes 36 independent conservation authorities with
varying policies, processes and capacity, which has created a fragmented system
with inconsistent standards and timelines. This has created uncertainty and
delays for builders, landowners and farmers, and has made it more challenging
for conservation authorities to carry out their role in protecting communities
from floods and natural hazards. To address this, the province created the new
Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) last fall and began consulting
with conservation authorities, municipalities and other partners on proposed
boundaries for consolidating the province’s conservation authorities.
Based on the extensive feedback received, the government amended its proposed
conservation authority boundaries and intends to introduce amendments to the
Conservation Authorities Act in the coming weeks that, if passed, will set out a
path to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities to create nine new
regional conservation authorities. Under this plan, the OPCA would coordinate a
clear and successful transition targeting early 2027 for consolidation, and to
deliver on its goal of improving customer service, enabling more consistent
decision-making and strengthening watershed management across the province.
With centralized leadership and independent oversight of conservation
authorities by the OPCA, Ontario’s plan for a regional conservation authority
system will reduce administrative duplication across the system and allow
conservation authorities to redirect resources to front-line services, operate
with greater consistency and transparency and deliver strengthened services to
municipalities and permit applicants. This would better position conservation
authorities to support the building of new homes and infrastructure while
continuing to protect communities from flooding and other natural hazards.
Programs and services delivered by conservation authorities would remain the
same, including watershed management, natural hazard management and source water
protection.
To ensure local knowledge and input continue to guide watershed management, the
province would require regional conservation authorities to create one or more
local watershed councils that help identify local priorities for watershed-based
conservation programs and services. Regional conservation authorities would
remain municipally governed, with regional municipalities, counties and cities
appointing members to conservation authorities. Lower-tier municipalities in
counties, such as towns and townships, will no longer be participating
municipalities of a conservation authority under this approach.
“Today marks a milestone for conservation in Ontario. By building a modern, more
unified system, we’re protecting local expertise while supporting front-line
programs that communities rely on,” said Hassaan Basit, Ontario’s Chief
Conservation Executive. “The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency would lead a
smooth, well‑supported transition, ensuring conservation authorities have the
tools and resources they need every step of the way to deliver effective
watershed management programs, meeting the needs of today and the future.”
To support regional conservation authorities throughout the transition process,
the province is providing annual funding to the OPCA in the amount of $3
million, beginning in 2026. This funding would be used by the agency to support
conservation authorities as needed during the transition period. Following
transition, this annual funding would go toward helping regional conservation
authorities achieve program improvements.
These changes are part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by improving
the province’s fragmented and inconsistent conservation authority system to
deliver more consistent services and more efficient resource and information
sharing, ensuring conservation authorities are more responsive to the needs of
the communities they serve.
QUICK FACTS
* The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency would coordinate the transition to
ensure conservation authorities can continue to manage flooding and other
natural hazards, drinking water source protection, permitting and the
management of their lands and recreational trails.
* Conservation authorities issue permits for development activities such as
housing and the installation of supporting infrastructure in areas affected
by risks of natural hazards such as floodplains, shorelines and wetlands.
* In November 2025, the government amended the Conservation Authorities Act to
establish the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency to provide efficient
governance, strategic direction and independent oversight of Ontario’s
conservation authorities.
* From November 7 to December 22, 2025, the province led a 45-day consultation
on the proposed boundaries for the regional consolidation, with conservation
authorities, municipalities, general stakeholders, and Indigenous
communities, which included six regional workshops that engaged directly with
conservation authority and municipal leadership. All input received was
considered and helped to inform the government’s plans.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
* Improving Ontario’s Conservation Authority System
* Learn more about conservation authorities
* Read about the new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency
* Read the decision notice on the proposed boundaries for the regional
consolidation of conservation authorities
