Province looks to consolidate conservation authorities

Ontario plans to merge 36 conservation authorities into 7. The province says the move will fix a fragmented system, but local managers say they were surprised.

The provincial government will soon introduce legislation to consolidate 36 conservation authorities in Ontario into seven.

In our region, there are authorities in Sault Ste, Marie, the Mattagami Region, North Bay-Mattawa and Sudbury.

Conservation authorities manage local watersheds with programs for flood and erosion control, drinking water source protection and land management.

Carl Jorgensen, general manager of Conservation Sudbury, said the news came as a bit of a surprise.

“We are localized, right? We are very much related to the communities that we serve,” added Jorgensen.

In a news release, Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, said “the system has become too fragmented, inconsistent, and outdated.”

“The new, dedicated agency would work with conservation leaders to ensure faster, more transparent permitting and more front-line services,” McCarthy said.

In an email, Corrina Barrett, the general manager of the Sault Ste Marie Region Conservation Authority, said they will continue doing their work until they are told otherwise.

“We are ready and willing to work with the province and are encouraged by the opportunity to comment on the upcoming proposed changes,” said Barrett.

Jorgensen said he also looks forward to providing input on the proposed changes, adding that he’s optimistic about some of the proposed changes.

“He’s talking about bringing in new tools and new opportunities for expertise to be shared across the province -- looking forward to that,” said Jorgensen.

In the coming weeks, the province said it will hold public consultations on watershed-based consolidation of conservation authorities, including the proposed regional boundaries.