The Province of Ontario has announced adjusted plans for changes to conservation authorities.

The original proposal was to consolidate into seven regional conservation authorities. After consultation where comments included concerns that the proposed boundaries were too large and not reflective of watersheds, the province has decided to consolidate into nine regional conservation authorities.

The changes include:

• Lakehead Region Conservation Authority will maintain its current boundaries and will be renamed Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority
• The proposed Huron-Superior will be named Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority will be consolidated with Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority to become Central Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority
• The proposed Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority will be two: Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority and Eastern Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority
• The Cataraqui Conservation Authority will be included in the Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority rather than the St. Lawrence River Regional Conservation Authority

The province plans to introduce amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act this spring to implement the below consolidations:

 1. Central Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority

• Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

 2. Eastern Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority

• Catfish Creek Conservation Authority
• Grand River Conservation Authority
• Kettle Creek Conservation Authority
• Long Point Region Conservation Authority

3. Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority

• Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
• Crowe Valley Conservation Authority
• Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority
• Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority
• Otonabee Region Conservation Authority
• Quinte Conservation Authority
• Kawartha Region Conservation Authority

4. Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority

• Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority
• Grey Sauble Conservation Authority
• Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
• Maitland Valley Conservation Authority
• Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
• Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

5. Northeastern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority

• Mattagami Region Conservation Authority
• Nickel District Conservation Authority
• North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority
• Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority

6.Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority

• Lakehead Region Conservation Authority

7. St. Lawrence River Regional Conservation Authority

• Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority
• Raisin Region Conservation Authority
• Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
• South Nation River Conservation Authority

8. Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority

• Essex Region Conservation Authority
• Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
• St. Clair Region Conservation Authority
• Upper Thames River Conservation Authority

9. Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority

• Credit Valley Conservation Authority
• Halton Region Conservation Authority
• Hamilton Region Conservation Authority
• Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority

The new proposed map can be found here.

The province will also propose amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act to:

• Suspend existing provisions allowing for the establishment, enlargement, amalgamation, and dissolution of conservation authorities during the transition period.
• Enable the Minister to issue immediate temporary restrictions on certain activities by conservation authorities to facilitate the planned consolidation.
• Enable the Minister to issue directions regarding the budget and apportionment process for 2027 conservation authorities.
• Update the governance structure for regional conservation authorities with participating municipalities within a conservation authority’s area of jurisdiction.
• Set out maximum board sizes and the method for determining the number of members that each participating municipality appoints. This is to be based on the proportion of the population in the jurisdiction with each participating municipality guaranteed at least one member with a maximum number per municipality.
• Removing the requirement that 70 per cent of members be elected officials and that the positions of chair and vice chair be filled on a rotating basis between participating municipalities.
• Add that certain knowledge and experience must be considered by municipalities when appointing members who do not sit on municipal council.
• Update that chairs and vice-chairs may be appointed for two-year terms and up to a maximum of eight total years served.
• Require each regional conservation authority to establish one or more watershed councils to ensure local priorities are identified and considered.
• Create regulation-making authority for the Minister to outline the number, composition, functions, powers, duties, activities and procedures of watershed councils.

No changes to conservation authority jurisdiction are proposed.