Province proposes turning 36 CAs into nine
ABCA Chair urges avenues for local, rural and municipal input if Ontario turns 36 conservation authorities into nine
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is reviewing March 10, 2026 announcement of Ontario’s plan to turn 36 conservation authorities into nine; small, rural ABCA would be merged with five other conservation authorities stretching beyond Barrie; ABCA Chair asks for working groups and enough local watershed councils to ensure local input after consolidation
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is reviewing the Province of Ontario’s March 10 announcement of a plan to turn 36 conservation authorities into nine regional bodies.
Under the plan, the small, rural ABCA would be merged with five other conservation authorities, including large urban areas north of Toronto. The six conservation authorities would be consolidated to form Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority.
The new region would stretch from Grand Bend in the south, north almost to Lake Couchiching, and beyond the Barrie area. The Province would consolidate ABCA with Lake Simcoe Region, Nottawasaga Valley, Grey Sauble, Saugeen Valley, and Maitland Valley conservation authorities.
Ray Chartrand is Chair of the ABCA Board of Directors. He said “we were disappointed” by the March 10 announcement but he also said the changes seem likely to proceed and ABCA will work in partnership with the Province of Ontario as discussions move forward.
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with the Province and other partners while emphasizing the importance of protecting the local voice and community relationships that have long supported the stewardship of the Ausable Bayfield watershed,” he said.
The Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Todd McCarthy, made the consolidation announcement, in a press conference. It is available on the Government of Ontario Announcements YouTube channel. Details are also included in a Province of Ontario news release. The Minister said new regional conservation authorities should be in place by early 2027.
The ABCA Chair said the local conservation authority will take a constructive approach.
“While we understand the Province’s intention to move toward a new regional model, this nine-region approach was not one that we recommended, nor is it currently enabled through legislation or regulation. Nevertheless, we recognize that this consolidation—through merger or amalgamation—appears likely to proceed. Given that likelihood, we believe it is important to take a constructive approach and work in partnership with the Province to help ensure a smooth and effective transition.”
In its recent announcement, the Province of Ontario moved away from the idea of a Lake Huron conservation authority stretching from Grand Bend to Thunder Bay. At the same time, the new proposed Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority will be very large and there will be a need for avenues for local input from the Ausable Bayfield area.
It will be important to ensure proposed changes don’t stifle local initiative, silence rural voices, limit local, municipal and agricultural input, or harm close community relationships and productive partnerships that benefit this part of rural Ontario.
The ABCA Chair said it will be very important for the Province to make sure that, within the regions, there are strong mechanisms “… to ensure that rural, local, and municipal voices continue to be heard and represented.”
One way this might be accomplished is through new proposed local watershed councils. These will need to be of a size and scale where rural voices are heard.
“Our watershed communities have long benefitted from strong partnerships and local relationships, and it will be essential that these are preserved within any new regional structure,” the ABCA Chair said. “Maintaining meaningful local input will help prevent unintended consequences of the proposed changes and ensure that rural and agricultural perspectives remain a vital part of watershed management.”
There should also be transition working groups with representation from the Province, conservation authorities, municipalities and other stakeholders.
Despite the Province’s announcement, it remains ‘business as usual’ at ABCA, as the conservation authority will continue to do its job and provide all its current programs and services as ABCA until integration into a larger region takes place.
The Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks acknowledged, at the press conference, the input received in consultation on proposed changes with more than 14,000 submissions from Ontarians. The Minister said the Ontario government had heard “ ... loud and clear ...” the importance of local decision-making not being lost. The Minister recognized the value of conservation authorities and their programs and services and said there would be no reduction in staffing levels for conservation authority staff. The Minister also said that local expertise will remain central to conservation authority work.
ABCA will continue to review the impacts of the Province’s proposed plan and may provide future updates. Residents may visit the abca.ca website for future updates.