Ontario is moving forward with plans to restructure the province’s 36 conservation authorities into nine regional authorities by early 2027. The new authorities will remain independent, governed by local councils, and overseen by a new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency.
Cataraqui Conservation and Quinte Conservation will merge with Crowe Valley, Lower Trent, Otonabee, Ganaraska, and Kawartha conservation authorities to form the Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority. The province says the reorganization will reduce administrative duplication, improve flood resilience, and create clearer processes for municipalities and permit applicants.
Local watershed councils will ensure community input continues on conservation priorities, even as smaller towns and townships lose direct representation on boards. Staffing levels are expected to remain the same, maintaining local expertise and knowledge. Some officials caution that large geographic boundaries could pose coordination challenges.
Critics from the Ontario NDP warn the plan could harm the environment and favor developers, calling for protections to remain in the hands of experts.
