Have Your Say on Proposed Changes to Conservation Authorities
Have you heard about the proposed changes to conservation authorities in Ontario? The Province of Ontario has created a new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency to oversee conservation work across the province. It is also proposing to merge the province’s 36 conservation authorities into seven large regional authorities that would report into the new agency. For the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA), this would mean joining with three neighbouring authorities to form a single organization spanning from Niagara to Peel. This merged regional conservation authority would cover 28 municipalities and approximately 2.8 million people.
Residents have until December 22, 2025, to comment on the plan, which is posted to the Environmental Registry (ERO #025-1257).
After reviewing the proposal, HCA’s Board of Directors does not support this merger.
Here’s Why This Matters
HCA serves the City of Hamilton and Township of Puslinch. It manages a 570-square-kilometre watershed, supports about 650,000 people, and cares for 11,744 acres of conservation lands. These natural areas are central to our local recreation, environmental health, and quality of life. HCA also plays a critical role in reviewing development applications, issuing permits, and helping protect people, property, and infrastructure from flooding, erosion, and other natural hazards.
All these actions contribute to a safe and healthy environment for local residents today and for generations to come. That’s why decisions about how our lands are used and cared for need to remain grounded in local priorities. If the Province moves ahead, local funding and decision-making would shift to a much larger regional agency. Our concern is clear: as systems grow, it becomes harder to protect local priorities and ensure local voices remain central to future decisions.
Why We’re Not Supporting the Proposed Merger
- The Province has not provided evidence showing why the merger is needed.
The plan notes that a regional approach is required to address inefficiency and streamline permit approvals, but doesn’t provide details on where existing CAs are falling short. We believe issues like inconsistent service or outdated systems can be addressed without restructuring the entire conservation system. - Local decision-making will be harder to maintain.
Currently, Hamilton and Puslinch fund approximately 35% of HCA’s work and have a direct say in watershed decisions. The Province contributes less than 1%. In a 28-municipality organization, our local voice will carry less weight, but municipalities will still be funding the work. - Mergers are expensive, and there’s no funding plan.
Bringing together conservation lands, visitor services, memberships, staff structures, and IT systems would be a major undertaking. The Province has not explained who will pay for these costs or how combining the systems will save money down the line. - HCA already provides efficient, reliable service.
In 2024, we processed 94% of major permits on time, meeting or exceeding provincial expectations. The focus should be on improving resources where needed, not reorganizing authorities that already perform well. - Strong conservation depends on local relationships.
For more than six decades, HCA’s conservation efforts have been supported by deep, local partnerships with municipalities, community groups, landowners, volunteers, foundations, and Indigenous partners. A larger, more removed agency could erode the local collaboration that makes conservation effective. - Key details remain unknown.
Governance, costs, timing, staffing, land management, branding, and community impact have not been explained, which leaves the potential effects of the merger uncertain
What We Believe Would Work Better
Instead of merging the entire system, we believe Ontario can achieve better results by:
- Setting clear, consistent provincial standards across all conservation authorities, and holding everyone accountable to them.
- Investing in shared technology, such as the provincial permitting portal, within the current structure.
- Providing stable provincial funding to strengthen core programs and modernize operations.
- Working directly with municipalities, Indigenous partners, conservation authorities, and residents before making any major changes.
How You Can Share Your Voice
Every comment matters. Your input can help guide the next steps.
A helpful note on submitting a comment:
You do not need to prepare a long or technical submission. If you support HCA’s position, you may simply indicate that you agree with the comments submitted by the Hamilton Conservation Authority and briefly share why strong local decision-making or local conservation areas matter to you.
For example: “I agree with HCA’s submission to the ERO. I am concerned about losing local decision-making and I support keeping conservation decisions rooted in our community.”
Additional ways to engage:
In addition to submitting a comment through the Environmental Registry, some residents may also choose to contact their local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to share their perspective. Direct outreach to elected representatives remains one way to help ensure local concerns are heard.
You can submit feedback to the Province until December 22, 2025, referencing ERO #025-1257:
Online: Visit the Ontario Environmental Registry and click Submit a Comment
Email: ca.office@ontario.ca (include “ERO #025-1257” in the subject line)
Mail:
Public Input Coordinator
MECP Conservation and Source Protection Branch
300 Water Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7
