Government plans to consolidate conservation authorities
The government of Ontario has announced plans to consolidate the province’s 36 existing conservation authorities into “several” watershed based regional conservation authorities.
In the coming weeks the government plans to introduce legislation to create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), “with the aim of improving the province’s conservation authority system to help get shovels in the ground faster on homes and other local infrastructure projects, while strengthening the vital role conservation authorities play in managing watersheds and protectingcommunities from floods and natural hazards,” announced Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “This action will 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.”
In a press conference on Oct. 31, McCarthy said the province’s 36 conservation authorities, created in 1946, are fragmented resulting in unpredictable and inconsistent turnaround times for approvals. The main criticisms are that conservation authorities have significant disparities in size and resources, with some lacking access to the latest tools and technology that support flood risk management and evidence- based decision making. Under the current system,130 municipalities fall within the jurisdiction of two or more conservation authorities, resulting in what McCarthy calls unnecessary duplication that diverts resources from front-line conservation work and service delivery. According to the government, under the consolidation, duplication would be reduced by 63 per cent.
“Conservation authorities play a vital role in protecting our communities and managing our watersheds, but the system has become too fragmented, inconsistent and outdated,” said McCarthy. “The new, dedicated agency would work with conservation leaders to ensure faster, more transparent permitting and more front-line services so we can reduce delays to get shovels in the ground sooner, support economic growth and keep our communities safe from floods and other natural hazards.”
“The government is right to insist on greater standardization and clearer processes across conservation authorities,” said Jonathan Scott, chair of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA), in a press release. “These are essential steps toward improving transparency and accountability. However, the proposed consolidation represents a significant and potentially disruptive shift. If not carefully managed, it could undermine local expertise and responsiveness, ultimately working against the outcomes the government aims to achieve.”
The new agency would be tasked with the development of a single digital permitting platform to provide a faster, more predictable approvals process and improved customer service; streamlining and standardizing service delivery by setting clear, province-wide performance standards and support their consistent application by conservation authorities with centralized data and updated floodplain mapping; and overseeing the implementation of a regional, watershed-based consolidation of conservation authorities.
The government says under the leadership of the new agency, conservation authorities will continue to deliver existing programs such as protecting people and property from natural hazards, drinking water source protection and the management of lands and recreational trails, including public access to local natural areas, as well as other recreational and educational activities.
“Conservation authorities remain one of Ontario’s best tools for balancing the province’s urgent housing needs with protecting the Nottawasaga Watershed from natural hazards and climate change,” said the NVCA’s
CAO Jennifer Vincent. “NVCA is committed to being part of the solution and will continue working to achieve these goals. This year alone, we’ve taken significant steps to modernize by introducing digital and standardized processes for permitting. As a result, our customer satisfaction scores have grown from 68 per cent to 90 per cent, and permitting timelines now meet provincial standards 95 per cent of the time with an average review time of just 16 days. These improvement reflect our dedication to progress – and we’re ready to build on this momentum.”
The government will soon begin consultations with the public, municipalities, stakeholders, Indigenous communities and other partners. The policy proposal will include a 45-day public consultation on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
File photo: Minesing Wetlands
