Toronto — The Ontario government plans to overhaul its network of conservation authorities through new legislation that would create a centralized agency aimed at improving efficiency, service delivery, and environmental protection across the province.
The proposed Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) will oversee and modernize Ontario’s system of 36 conservation authorities, which currently manage local watersheds and flood protection. The province says the new body will help “get shovels in the ground faster” for housing and infrastructure projects while reinforcing conservation authorities’ core responsibilities in managing natural hazards and protecting communities.
In announcing the plan, Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, said the current system has grown too complex and inconsistent to meet the needs of Ontario’s growing communities and business sector.
“Conservation authorities play a vital role in protecting our communities and managing our watersheds, but the system has become too fragmented, inconsistent and outdated,” McCarthy said. “The new, dedicated agency would work with conservation leaders to ensure faster, more transparent permitting and more front-line services so we can reduce delays to get shovels in the ground sooner, support economic growth and keep our communities safe from floods and other natural hazards.”
Streamlining a Fragmented System
Ontario’s network of conservation authorities has evolved over decades, each with its own policies, fee structures, staffing levels, and technical standards. The government argues that this patchwork has created uneven service levels and unpredictable turnaround times for permit approvals.
Builders, farmers, and landowners have long cited these inconsistencies as barriers to development and infrastructure investment. By consolidating oversight under the new OPCA, the province aims to create a more uniform and transparent system that reduces administrative delays and supports economic competitiveness.
The government’s plan includes centralized leadership, consistent governance, and improved data-sharing among all conservation authorities. The new agency will also help free up local resources for on-the-ground conservation work while providing a unified framework for flood prevention, water management, and land protection.
Key Modernization Projects
According to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the OPCA will lead several modernization initiatives:
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A single digital permitting platform, designed to make development approvals faster and more predictable.
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Standardized provincewide performance benchmarks, ensuring consistent service delivery across all conservation authorities.
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Updated floodplain mapping and data integration, providing more accurate risk assessments and improved decision-making tools.
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Regional consolidation of conservation authorities, reducing duplication of services and aligning jurisdictions with watershed boundaries.
These steps, the government said, will help balance expertise and technical capacity across regions, while ensuring that smaller conservation authorities gain access to shared tools, data, and funding.
A New Model for Collaboration
Under the proposed structure, conservation authorities will continue to manage programs such as flood and hazard prevention, drinking water source protection, land management, and public access to nature trails. The OPCA will provide coordination, funding oversight, and technical guidance.
Hassaan Basit, Chief Conservation Executive, said the new approach would help conservation authorities deliver faster and more reliable services.
“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 Basit.
“With better tools and more resources for front-line staff, local conservation authorities will have a greater ability to use technical data, research and analysis to make decisions, operate with greater consistency and transparency, and deliver faster services to municipalities, residents and permit applicants.”
Consultation and Implementation
The provincial government plans to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to formally establish the OPCA. Once the legislation is tabled, Ontario will launch a public consultation process involving municipalities, Indigenous communities, environmental stakeholders, and residents.
Consultations will focus on the proposed consolidation of regional authorities, including the redrawing of watershed-based boundaries to improve operational efficiency. The province says the criteria guiding this process will prioritize maintaining watershed integrity, minimizing administrative overlap, and ensuring uninterrupted service delivery.
Currently, more than half of municipalities fall under the jurisdiction of multiple conservation authorities, creating administrative duplication. The province estimates that its proposed consolidation could reduce such overlap by 63 per cent.
Supporting a Competitive and Resilient Economy
The Ontario government says the creation of the OPCA supports its broader economic strategy to build a “more competitive, resilient and self-reliant” provincial economy. By reducing red tape and increasing regulatory consistency, officials argue, Ontario can improve investor confidence and accelerate approvals for housing, industrial, and infrastructure projects.
The move also aligns with the province’s long-term environmental strategy to strengthen climate resilience and protect communities from flooding — an issue that has become increasingly critical amid changing weather patterns.
Conservation authorities are unique to Ontario and have long served as the province’s front line in watershed management, flood mitigation, and environmental monitoring. The proposed agency represents the most significant restructuring of this system in decades.
The government says that if approved, the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will mark a “new era” of coordinated watershed management that balances economic growth with environmental protection.
