The Ontario government says the proposed Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority would combine four existing conservation authorities – Essex Region, Lower Thames Valley, St. Clair Region and Upper Thames River – as part of a sweeping plan to consolidate the province’s current system into nine regional bodies.
The proposal was announced Tuesday by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as the province moves forward with plans to merge Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into nine larger regional agencies.
Officials say the Western Lake Erie regional authority would bring together the Essex Region Conservation Authority, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and Upper Thames River Conservation Authority under a single organization responsible for watershed management and flood protection across the broader region.
The province says the consolidation aims to reduce administrative duplication, modernize permitting and strengthen watershed management while helping accelerate housing and infrastructure development.
“Ontario’s improved approach would feature watershed-based regional conservation authorities operating under consistent provincial standards, modern tools and strengthened capacity – delivering stronger watershed management, flood resilience and better support for housing and infrastructure growth,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
The government says the plan follows consultations last fall on how conservation authorities can better support new housing and infrastructure projects while maintaining their role in protecting communities from flooding and natural hazards.
Ontario currently has 36 independent conservation authorities operating with different policies, timelines and processes. The province says this has created a fragmented system that can lead to delays and uncertainty for builders, landowners and farmers.
To address those issues, the government established the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency last fall and began consulting municipalities, conservation authorities and other partners on potential regional boundaries.
“Today marks a milestone for conservation in Ontario. By building a modern, more unified system, we’re protecting local expertise while supporting front-line programs that communities rely on,” said Hassaan Basit, Ontario’s Chief Conservation Executive. “The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency would lead a smooth, well-supported transition, ensuring conservation authorities have the tools and resources they need every step of the way to deliver effective watershed management programs, meeting the needs of today and the future.”
If approved by the legislature, amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act would establish the nine new regional conservation authorities and set a transition timeline targeting early 2027.
The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency would oversee the transition and provide centralized leadership and oversight for conservation authorities across the province. The government says the new regional system would allow authorities to redirect more resources to front-line conservation services while improving consistency and transparency in decision-making.
Programs currently delivered by conservation authorities — including watershed management, natural hazard management and source water protection — would continue under the new structure.
To support the transition, the province says it will provide the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency with $3 million annually beginning in 2026. The funding would assist conservation authorities during the transition period and later support program improvements under the regional system.
Under the proposal, conservation authorities would remain municipally governed, with regional municipalities, counties and cities appointing members. The province also plans to require regional authorities to establish local watershed councils to help identify community priorities and ensure local knowledge continues to guide watershed management.
More details can be found, here.
