Consultation will consider regional, watershed-based consolidation of conservation authorities
The provincial government has announced plans to introduce legislation to establish a centralized Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) and conduct public consultations regarding a watershed-based consolidation of conservation authorities, with their regional boundaries based on specific criteria.
The following are the criteria for consideration during the provincial government’s planned consultations with members of the public, municipalities, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and other partners:
According to Ontario’s news release, the new agency will oversee modernization and improvement projects, including:
“The government of Ontario has suggested that consolidating conservation authorities would cut jurisdictional overlap by 63%, reducing duplication and freeing up resources for front-line work,” stated a blog post from McCarthy Tétrault LLP.
Ontario claimed that the proposed consolidation will enable more consistent service delivery, more efficient sharing of resources and information, and more responsive conservation authorities.
According to Ontario, the planned OPCA will help the province improve its conservation authority system, enhance governance and strategic direction, make permitting more transparent and consistent, expedite infrastructure projects, and strengthen the protection of communities from floods and other natural hazards.
“This announcement is the latest in a series of changes to the role of Conservation Authorities in planning and development in Ontario, largely aimed at speeding up the construction of homes and other local infrastructure projects,” according to an insight from Dentons.
Ontario added that the new agency will help the province improve service delivery, decrease delays, cut red tape, keep workers on the job, and grow the economy amid tariff challenges and economic uncertainty.
“The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will work with conservation authorities to reduce duplication, implement consistent processes and standards, and leverage shared technology and other resources,” said Hassaan Basit, chief conservation executive, in the news release.
Under the new OPCA’s centralized leadership, conservation authorities will continue to deliver existing programs, protect Ontarians and their property from natural hazards, safeguard drinking water sources, supervise public access to local natural areas, and manage lands, recreational trails, and other recreational and educational activities.
The provincial government’s news release described the existing conservation authority system. Currently, Ontario has 36 conservation authorities, each having its own policies, standards, fees, staffing levels, and technical capacities.
“Conservation authorities play a vital role in protecting our communities and managing our watersheds, but the system has become too fragmented, inconsistent and outdated,” said Todd McCarthy – Ontario’s minister of the environment, conservation, and parks – in the news release.
Ontario explained that this fragmented system has caused unpredictable and inconsistent approval periods, insufficient protection of communities from natural hazards, and uncertainty and delays for builders, landowners, and farmers applying for permits.
According to Ontario, under the existing system, over half of municipalities in areas governed by conservation authorities fall within the jurisdiction of two or more authorities.
Ontario added that conservation authorities currently experience substantial disparities in size and resources, with some unable to access updated technology and tools for flood risk management and evidence-based decision-making.
