Mississauga would lose direct participation in conservation authority governance under an Ontario consolidation plan announced March 10, with upper-tier municipalities taking responsibility for board appointments and operating levies.
The province plans to replace Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities with nine regional organizations starting in spring 2027, The Pointer reported. The revised proposal increases the number of regional bodies from the seven originally proposed in October.
Environment Minister Todd McCarthy and Ontario’s chief conservation executive, Hassaan Basit, said the changes would improve flood resilience, reduce administrative duplication and make permitting more consistent while retaining local expertise.
But Deborah Martin-Downs, a former chief administrative officer of Credit Valley Conservation and former director at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, said the proposed organizations are too large and important governance questions remain unanswered.
Under the proposal, upper- and single-tier municipalities would appoint board members and pay levies. Lower-tier municipalities would no longer participate directly.
Representation is expected to reflect population, with each participating municipality guaranteed at least one member. Limits would cap board sizes and prevent any one municipality from controlling decisions.
Martin-Downs questioned how many municipalities would sit on each authority and how large boards could make decisions effectively.
Province promises to retain local expertise
McCarthy said the regional authorities would remain independent, municipally governed organizations and that staffing levels would not be reduced.
The new bodies would be overseen by the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency. They would also have to establish watershed councils that include Indigenous representatives and participants from agriculture, development and other local sectors.
Provincial officials said they revised the proposal following consultations with municipalities, conservation authorities and Indigenous communities, including six regional workshops. Caledon Councillor Christina Early, a Credit Valley Conservation board member, said CVC representatives participated in consultations last fall.
Ontario Headwaters Institute executive director Andrew McCammon welcomed the greater emphasis on science, watershed planning and local knowledge. He nevertheless cautioned that the details of the new system would matter.
Funding and transition remain concerns
The province announced $3 million annually for the transition on March 10, in addition to $20 million announced last year. Martin-Downs and other critics argued the funding does not amount to reinvestment, raising concerns about longer-term provincial support.
A group of 74 retired political and conservation leaders had urged Ontario in a December 22 letter to pause consolidation, hold further discussions and undertake a transparent cost-benefit analysis. Former Ottawa city councillor Janet Stavinga said the group’s concerns remain unaddressed.
The legislative groundwork was established through Bill 68, introduced November 6 and passed November 25, which amended the Conservation Authorities Act. The province says consolidation will provide common standards, better tools and stronger technical capacity.
