Ford government set to amalgamate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into 7

Environment Minister Todd McCarthy says conservation authorities are essential to watershed management and public safety, but operate largely on their own with fragmented data systems and a patchwork of standards.

That’s why the Ford government will introduce legislation to establish the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, which will consolidate the current 36 conservation authorities to a mere seven.

“They will ensure faster and more transparent permitting and more front line services, so we can reduce delays to get shovels in the ground sooner so that we can support economic growth and keep the communities safe from natural hazards and floods,” says McCarthy.

But the leader of the Green Party suggests this move has very little to do with the environment, and is more about development.

“This is about the Premier making wealthy insiders wealthier at our expense,” Mike Schreiner says.

“It’s reckless and it’s dangerous.”

McCarthy says the proposed areas for the seven new regional conservation authorities will be better aligned with natural watersheds and will help reduce duplication.

“Ontario is a big province with a lot of different concerns, geographies, species, wetlands in place. Doug Ford has already weakened our conservation authorities.”

Environment Hamilton agrees with Mike Schreiner, saying this consolidation will “only” benefit developers.

“It’s an unrelenting attack that benefits only a small number of developers who probably already own the land they’re looking to strip the rights from, so they can build McMansions,” says Ian Borsuk, executive director of Environment Hamilton.

Minister McCarthy says the consolidation won’t result in job losses, but there will be some management positions “redeployed” to front-line roles.

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