FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MARCH 13^th, 2026

Province Moves Forward with Plan to Consolidate Ontario’s Conservation Authorities

SAUGEEN WATERSHED, ONTARIO (Bruce, Grey, Huron, Dufferin and Wellington Counties) –

The Province of Ontario has announced the next step in its plan to modernize conservation authorities, confirming its intention to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into 9 regional conservation authorities.    The proposal was first introduced in October 2025, followed by a consultation period through Ontario’s Environmental Registry where more than 14,000 comments were submitted. Following that feedback, the Province announced March 10 that it intends to proceed with a revised regional model.

Under the proposal, Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) would become part of a new Lake Huron Conservation Authority, alongside Ausable Bayfield, Grey Sauble, Nottawasaga Valley, Maitland, and Lake Simcoe Region conservation authorities.  The proposed regional grouping includes several conservation authorities with very different watershed characteristics, and land-use challenges.

 The Province has indicated the transition process will begin in 2026, with the regional system expected to take effect in February 2027 following the next municipal election cycle.   They will be steering the transition process including the appointment of the Chair of the transition committee for each Regional conservation authority. 

It has been communicated that under the proposed governance structure, members of regional conservation authority boards would be appointed by upper-tier municipalities, such as counties or regional governments. The Province has also proposed the creation of watershed councils to help ensure local watershed knowledge continues to inform planning and management decisions.

The changes would shift aspects of conservation authority governance and oversight toward a more centralized provincial framework, through the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA).  With “representation by population” model, rural conservation authorities have voiced concern that they may lack representation on the Regional Board.  Existing agreements between SVCA and its municipal partners are expected to continue through the transition, with the new regional conservation authority assuming those agreements as the successor organization. Assets and liabilities currently managed by SVCA would also transition to the regional authority.

“Watershed management happens every day. Our staff will continue the good work they do as the Province works through the details of the regional model.”

-          Erik Downing, General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

As part of the transition process, the Province has indicated that they would introduce several temporary measures intended to support an orderly consolidation, ie. restrictions on certain financial or structural decisions during the transition period.

The Province has indicated that day-to-day conservation authority operations will continue as normal during the transition.  Saugeen Conservation will continue working with the Province, the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, and municipal partners as the transition process unfolds.

For more information, please contact: Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority

Email: media@svca.on.ca | Cell: 519-369-4295 | Website: www.saugeenconservation.ca