The provincial government is proceeding with plans to streamline conservation authorities.
The current 36 entities will be combined into nine regional organizations.
Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd Mc Carthy believes this will enhance watershed management.
“By consolidating into nine optimized regional conservation authorities, we can reduce administrative duplication while delivering consistent provincial standards, modern tools and strengthened capacity,” says Mc Carthy.
“It would mean stronger flood resilience, clearer processes for municipalities and permit applicants and better support for housing and infrastructure projects, all while maintaining the science-based decisions that people and businesses expect.”
A single authority in northwestern Ontario, located in Thunder Bay, will continue to exist.
The province considered merging it with another authority in northeastern Ontario.
“We listened after initially proposing seven rather than six, and we’ve arrived at nine and very important changes from what we originally proposed based on those consultations,” says Mc Carthy.
“For example, Thunder Bay is going to be a standalone conservation authority separate from Lake Huron. We listened, we acted.”
Mc Carthy states that the conservation authorities will remain independent organizations governed by municipalities.
They will also keep managing provincially mandated programs like flooding control, natural hazard management, drinking water source protection as well as overseeing their lands and recreational trails.
A new agency created to supervise the consolidation of these authorities will stay operational.
Mc Carthy mentions that the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will assist with the transition process.
“It would lead consolidation and work to ensure that every conservation authority has the tools and the resources they need to deliver effective watershed management today and into the future,” says Mc Carthy.
“To support the agency’s work, our province is providing new additional funding of $3 million annually to OPCA beginning this year. During the transition, OPCA would use these funds to help conservation authorities transition to the new model.”
The newly formed authorities are expected to be in place early next year.
Randy Thoms is a veteran news broadcaster with over 40 years’ experience. He is based in Fort Frances and covers stories across northwestern Ontario. Contact Randy at thoms. randy@radioabl. ca.
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