NEWS RELEASE
Ontario Creating New Conservation Authority Agency to Improve Service Delivery and Protect Communities
Agency will oversee key improvement projects, including a proposed regional consolidation
October 31, 2025
Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks
Toronto — The Ontario government will soon introduce legislation to create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) with the aim of improving the province’s conservation authority system to help get shovels in the ground faster on homes and other local infrastructure projects, while strengthening the vital role conservation authorities play in managing watersheds and protecting communities from floods and natural hazards. This action will help the province deliver on its plan to protect Ontario by cutting red tape and building an economy that is more competitive, resilient and self-reliant, to help keep workers on the job in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty.
“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in protecting our communities and managing our watersheds, but the system has become too fragmented, inconsistent and outdated,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.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, dedicated agency would work with conservation leaders to ensure faster, more transparent permitting and more front-line services so we can reduce delays to get shovels in the ground sooner, support economic growth and keep our communities safe from floods and other natural hazards.”
Ontario currently has a fragmented system of 36 conservation authorities, each of which have different policies, standards, fees and levels of staffing and technical capabilities. This has led to unpredictable and inconsistent turnaround times for approvals across all conservation authorities, creating uncertainty and delays for builders, landowners and farmers seeking permits and undermining conservation authorities’ ability to protect communities from floods and natural hazards.
To address these issues, the OPCA will provide centralized leadership, efficient governance, strategic direction and oversight of all conservation authorities. The agency will free-up resources for front-line conservation and ensure faster, more consistent and transparent permitting, while supporting conservation authorities in their core mandate of managing watersheds and protecting people and property from natural hazards in an efficient and consistent manner.
The agency will be tasked with leading key modernization projects, including:
- developing a single digital permitting platform to provide a faster, more predictable approvals process and improved customer service
- streamlining and standardizing service delivery by setting clear, provincewide performance standards and support their consistent application by conservation authorities with centralized data and updated floodplain mapping
- overseeing the implementation of a regional, watershed-based consolidation of conservation authorities
Under the leadership of the new agency, conservation authorities will continue to deliver existing programs such as protecting people and property from natural hazards, drinking water source protection and the management of lands and recreational trails, including public access to local natural areas, as well as other recreational and educational activities.
“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.”
In the coming weeks the government plans to introduce legislation to establish the proposed agency. As part of that work, the government will soon begin consultations with the public, municipalities, stakeholders, Indigenous communities and other partners on a watershed-based consolidation of conservation authorities, including the proposed regional boundaries of each conservation authority based on the following criteria:
- maintaining watershed-based jurisdictions for effective flood and water management
- reducing administrative overlap and duplication for municipalities and conservation authorities
- balancing expertise and capacity across conservation authorities to improve service and program delivery
- ensuring uninterrupted delivery of local conservation authority programs
Under the current system, more than half of all municipalities in areas served by conservation authorities fall within the jurisdiction of two or more conservation authorities, resulting in unnecessary duplication that diverts resources from front-line conservation work and service delivery. If the consolidation is implemented as proposed, this would be reduced by 63 per cent.
Individual conservation authorities have significant disparities in size and resources, with some lacking access to the latest tools and technology that support flood risk management and evidence-based decision making. Consolidation would enable more consistent service delivery and more efficient resource and information sharing, making conservation authorities more responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.
Quick Facts
- Unique to Ontario, conservation authorities develop and deliver local, watershed-based resource management programs on behalf of the province and municipalities, including programs aimed at preventing natural hazards, drinking water source protection and surface water and groundwater monitoring programs.
- As part of their responsibilities, conservation authorities issue permits for development activities such as housing, installation of sewage systems in areas affected by risks of natural hazards such as floodplains, shorelines and wetlands.
Media Contacts
Alexandru Cioban
Minister's Office
Alexandru.Cioban@ontario.ca
Gary Wheeler
Communications Branch
gary.s.wheeler@ontario.ca
416-314-6666
ALSO FROM THE LEGISLATURE ON OCTOBER 31, 2025.
AS A PUBLIC SERVICE
Ontario Trails Trip Planner
Do you promote user trips and trail tourism by using the Ontario Trails Council Trip Planner?
On the OTC Website ontariotrails.ca select your favourite trail in an OTC Member RTO -
Then move your cursor to the right side of the graphic and select - Plan your trip.
In one spot you will see all nearby trails if you are planning on seeing a group of them. or if you prefer you will be able to see other tourism spots to see on, or adjacent to your trail trip!
Scroll down the page to select the other trails you wish to add to your trip. We added Little Lake Paddling Route and Peterborough Trans Canada Trail.
Select "Go to Step 2" - you will see your itinerary in a list:
On each page of the trip planner is a visualized Google Map that allows you to see the route to other tourism assets and the trails you selected.
Congratulations on creating your personalized itinerary!
This service is available for RTO members, and is currently active on RTO6, RTO8, RTO11, RTO13a, b, c; pages.
We thank them for their membership support and for promoting trail trips in their region!
Professional Development - Online Learning
Trail Stewardship - Starts November 8, 2025 (adjusted)
Offered in Partnership with Confederation College
OnLine Learning
Why Confederation College? Learn more about
OnLine Learning.
Course details coming soon.
Unit 1 - Safety and TrainingBy the end of this lesson, you will have demonstrated the ability to do the following: Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the trail industry in Canada.
Work safely as a trail crew member – (prepare self and others to be effective trail crew members).
Explain the basics to trail building. Recognize common trail issues and how to resolve problematic areas. Handle trail tools safely and effectively.
Unit 2 - Trail AssessmentBy the end of this lesson, you will have demonstrated the ability to do the following: Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the on the ground trail environment. Explain key features of recreational trails. Describe the basics of trail tread, site preparation and construction elements. Assess the key components of trail issues and how to resolve them. Explain the basic elements to designing and installing a trail tread.
Unit 3 - Food and NutritionBy the end of this lesson, you will have demonstrated the ability to do the following: Demonstrate basic knowledge of the various food groups that are important to nutrition. Explain why keeping hydrated on the worksite is important to worker health and wellbeing. Describe what types of food and drink are available on the worksite. Provide an example of what you would take with you as snack, lunch or dinner out to the trail. Provide an example as to how you would prepare a meal on the trail.
Unit 4 - Indigenous Trail BuildingThis course will focus on Indigenous trail building best practices across Canada to encourage more Indigenous communities to build legacy trails for community recreation, tourism, and pathways for reconciliation. This course will provide an educational opportunity for non-indigenous trail builders to gain an understanding of community-based consultation and opportunities for partnering with trail tourism development. 
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