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Dear Municipal Partners and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO),

We are writing to inform you that a decision notice has been posted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) regarding the proposal notice posting #025-1257 on the “Proposed boundaries for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities.”

The proposal initially consulted on by the government proposed boundaries that would have resulted in seven regional conservation authorities. As a result of the feedback received during consultation, the province adjusted the boundaries to accommodate areas with distinct geographies and development contexts, to better balance differing priorities across rural, urban and northern areas and improve alignment with watersheds and with source protection regions. The government is now planning to move forward with consolidation to create nine optimized regional CAs. A map showing the planned boundaries and the nine new CAs is available at Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency | ontario.ca. 

In the coming weeks, the government plans to introduce amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act (CAA) that would implement the consolidation and set out a smooth path to consolidation to ensure service continuity for communities. Consolidation is targeted to take effect in early 2027 to allow transition planning to occur over the next year. The government’s plan would ensure a clear, coordinated and successful transition led by the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), that would minimize disruptions to CA staffing, services, permitting processes and with all existing partnerships and obligations carried forward to maintain service stability. A summary of the consolidation plan, and details on transition, are included in the decision notice Proposed boundaries for the regional consolidation of Ontario’s conservation authorities | Environmental Registry of Ontario.

The government’s plans to consolidate CAs build on recent progress Ontario has made to improve the CA system, including establishing OPCA to provide centralized leadership and oversight for Ontario’s CAs. Under these plans, the important work that conservation authorities do to protect people and property from the risks of flooding and other natural hazards would not change. The nine new regional CAs would continue to operate as independent, municipally governed organizations and to fulfill their provincially mandated programs such as managing flooding and other natural hazards, drinking water source protection under the Clean Water Act, watershed management programs, and the management of their lands and recreational trails, ensuring public access to local natural areas and outdoor activities.

We recognize the important role that municipalities have in the governance of conservation authorities. We are committed to keeping you informed throughout the transition and ensuring that the relationships, programs and services that CAs provide to municipalities continue.

The province is committed to working closely with municipal partners and AMO throughout this process and ensuring local knowledge informs next steps.

In the coming weeks you will be invited to technical briefings to provide further information on the next steps in the planned transition process.

For questions regarding the plans for consolidation, please contact CCEO@ontario.ca. If you have questions about the planned legislative amendments and day-to-day CA business, please reach out to MECP staff via ca.office@ontario.ca.

We thank you for taking the time to share with us your perspectives during the consultations that helped to shape this plan and look forward to working closely with you and your municipal/association colleagues over the next year.

Sincerely,

Chloe Stuart   
ADM, Land and Water Division 
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Hassaan Basit   
Chief Conservation Executive

Office of the Chief Conservation Executive