At its Board meeting on November 13, the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) discussed the Province’s proposal to consolidate Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities into seven regional entities under Bill 68, Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025.
The plan, announced by Environment Minister Todd McCarthy on October 31, includes creating an Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency to oversee the amalgamation and consult on proposed boundaries.
While ERCA supports the Province’s goals of improving efficiency and consistency, Board members raised concerns about how these changes could impact local accountability and service delivery. The Essex region faces unique watershed challenges, including prairie-like topography, coastal erosion, and flood-prone areas surrounded by water on three sides, requiring tailored solutions informed by local expertise.
“Under the proposed model, decisions affecting our communities will be made by a board representing up to 80 municipalities, diluting accountability and transparency,” said ERCA Chair Molly Allaire.
“Local knowledge is not just valuable, it’s essential. Our local community faces unique environmental challenges that cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach. We want to work with the Province to ensure any changes maintain strong local representation and effective watershed management.”
Board members also expressed concerns about potential delays for development and agriculture.
“Builders and farmers rely on timely, locally informed permitting,” said Tim Byrne, CAO.
“Centralizing these functions could create bottlenecks rather than efficiencies. Local developers value direct access to ERCA staff who have been instrumental in finding creative solutions to complex challenges. Planners and engineers also depend on being able to discuss designs with local experts — not teams located up to three hours away.”
Questions were also raised about how local expert knowledge be accessed throughout all phases of emergency management when dealing with flooding disasters – like those that have been experienced far too often in the local watershed region.
Following significant discussion regarding this proposal, the Board unanimously passed resolution 90/25, which does not support the Province’s proposed merger of ERCA into a single Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority stretching from Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island, through north of Waterloo region.
The resolution highlights ERCA’s ongoing modernization efforts—including digital permitting systems, improved transparency, and cost-saving measures—demonstrating that efficiencies can be achieved within the current watershed-based governance model. It also emphasizes the unique environmental challenges of the Essex region, such as coastal erosion and flood-prone areas, which require locally informed solutions.
The Board calls on the Province to evaluate more geographically coherent alternatives and to engage directly with affected municipalities and conservation authorities before finalizing any changes. The resolution will be submitted to the Environmental Registry and shared with provincial officials, local councils, First Nations, and other stakeholders.
The resolution can be found in its entirety here: https://www.essexregionconservation.ca/post/erca-board-expresses-concerns-over-provincial-plan-to-consolidate-conservation-authorities
The Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO #025-1257) is open for public comment until December 22, 2025. This is your opportunity to speak up. Contact your local MPP to urge them to pause and keep local watershed management decisions in the hands of local decision-makers. Tell the province that conservation decisions must remain local, accountable, and responsive.
Click here to submit your comments today at ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257.