Ontario to consolidate conservation authorities, create new oversight agency
Written by The Canadian Press on October 31, 2025
TORONTO — Ontario is proposing to consolidate its 36 conservation authorities into seven and create a new provincial agency to oversee them.
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.
The government is set to soon introduce legislation to establish the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, which the province says will provide centralized leadership and strategic direction.
McCarthy says the proposed areas for the seven new regional conservation authorities will be better aligned with natural watersheds and will help reduce duplication.
He says the consolidation will result in no job losses, but there will be some management positions “redeployed” to front-line roles.
McCarthy says for example that the CEOs of the 36 existing conservation authorities would have a “transformational opportunity” to become a front-line worker.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2025.
Allison Jones, The Canadian Press