Monday, November 3, 2025
The Ontario government plans to introduce new legislation to establish the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), a centralized body designed to modernize and streamline the province’s network of conservation authorities.
The move aims to speed up permitting processes for housing and infrastructure projects while maintaining strong protections for watersheds, floods and natural hazards.
“Conservation authorities play a vital role in protecting our communities and managing our watersheds, but the system has become too fragmented, inconsistent and outdated,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “The new agency would ensure faster, more transparent permitting and more front-line services, helping us reduce delays, support economic growth, and keep our communities safe.”
Ontario’s current system of 36 conservation authorities has been criticized for inconsistent policies, fees and approval timelines. The province says this fragmentation creates uncertainty for builders, municipalities and farmers while straining local authorities’ capacity to protect communities from flooding and other natural hazards.
The OPCA would serve as a central governing body, providing province-wide standards, oversight and strategic direction. It would also lead modernization efforts such as developing a single digital permitting platform, updating floodplain mapping and implementing consistent performance standards across all conservation authorities.
In addition, the new agency will oversee a proposed regional consolidation of conservation authorities. The province says the plan would maintain watershed-based jurisdictions while reducing administrative overlap and balancing technical expertise across regions.
“The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will work with conservation authorities to reduce duplication, implement consistent processes and standards, and leverage shared technology and other resources,” said Hassaan Basit, Chief Conservation Executive. “With better tools and more resources for front-line staff, local conservation authorities will have a greater ability to use technical data, research and analysis to make decisions, operate with greater consistency and transparency, and deliver faster services to municipalities, residents and permit applicants.”
Consultations will begin in the coming weeks with municipalities, Indigenous communities, stakeholders and the public to refine the consolidation plan and determine new regional boundaries. The province estimates that the proposal could reduce overlapping municipal jurisdictions by 63 per cent, freeing up more resources for front-line conservation work.
Conservation authorities in Ontario are unique in Canada for their watershed-based management approach. They are responsible for protecting people and property from natural hazards, safeguarding drinking water sources and maintaining recreational lands and trails.
The government says the proposed OPCA will preserve these core responsibilities while modernizing governance, technology and service delivery to meet the province’s growing needs.
