Concerns Emerge Over Ontario Conservation Authorities Merger

Some leaders in eastern Ontario are questioning the province’s initiative to merge its conservation authorities significantly.

Conservation authorities play a key role in granting permits for various housing and infrastructure projects in floodplains, shorelines, and wetlands.

This past Tuesday, the Ontario government revealed plans to reduce the province’s 36 authorities down to nine regional ones. Environment Minister Todd Mc Carthy stated that these new entities will operate under the newly established Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) and should be up and running by 2027.

The province hopes this new structure will allow conservation authorities “to support the building of new homes and infrastructure” while still protecting communities from flooding and other natural threats, according to their news release about the plan.

However, some managers of conservation authorities in eastern Ontario have voiced concerns regarding the plan, which still needs approval from provincial legislators who must amend the Conservation Authorities Act before proceeding.

Sally Mc Intyre, general manager for the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, which oversees natural resources in both the Mississippi and Carp watersheds as well as parts of Ottawa’s watershed, expressed that managing larger regional authorities will require effective oversight due to their extensive geographic areas and staffing needs.

“I don’t anticipate a centralized management team being able to effectively oversee such a large area,” she mentioned.

Mc Intyre also emphasized her desire for a thorough amalgamation process rather than rushing it under strict deadlines.

Sally Mc Intyre, general manager of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, says she doesn’t want the amalgamation process to be rushed. (Francis Ferland/CBC)

The regional breakdown

The nine merged conservation authorities will be governed by regional municipalities, counties, and cities. Towns and townships will no longer take part in governing these conservation bodies.

In this new arrangement, each regional conservation authority will be responsible for establishing at least one watershed council aimed at identifying priorities for conservation programs and services.

“Ontario currently has a fragmented system of conservation authorities, each of which have different policies, different standards, different fees and different levels of staffing and technical capabilities,” Mc Carthy stated.

An earlier version of the plan envisioned seven regional bodies instead of the nine now proposed by the province as shown on this map. (Government of Ontario)

Mc Carthy assured that there would be no cuts to staffing levels.

Three conservation authorities covering the Ottawa watershed – Mississippi Valley, Rideau Valley, and South Nation – along with Raisin Region Conservation Authority serving eastern Ontario regions like Cornwall will come together as one under St. Lawrence River Regional Conservation Authority.

The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority will join forces with Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority.Ontario Environment Minister Todd Mc Carthy says these new agencies will function under OPCA starting in 2027. (Sammy Kogan/ )

Preserving local knowledge

The province’s proposal follows a consultation period lasting 45 days during which existing conservation authorities along with municipalities and Indigenous communities discussed potential new boundaries.</pp

David Ellingwood serves as general manager for Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority overseeing eleven watersheds stretching from Greater Napanee on one end to Brockville on another; he pointed out that an essential question revolves around how local expertise gets incorporated into this new model.</pp

“Having a permit system where staff do a site visit and they know the developers; they know what that section of water course is like; how it behaves; where flood problems might be.. that should still be top of mind is maintaining that local system, that local knowledge,” he said.</pp

Mc Carthy affirmed that local knowledge would remain vital in carrying out work within these conservation authorities.

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