Plan to Merge Conservation Authorities Draws Concern Along Grand River Watershed

Conservation authority responds to province’s plans for mergers

EXETER – The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) said it is reviewing the province’s March 10 announcement of a plan to turn 36 conservation authorities into nine regional bodies.

FONOM calls for strong northern voice in conservation authority reform

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is urging the Province of Ontario to ensure northern communities are fully engaged as the government moves forward with its plan to consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into nine regional organizations.

Plan to merge conservation authorities draws concern along Grand River watershed

GRCA changing as province goes ahead with amalgamation

The province has announced it will be moving head with massive changes to the conservation authorities across Ontario.

Questions raised about plan to amalgamate Ontario's conservation authorities

The Ontario government announced this week it will fold the province's 36 authorities into nine regional ones. "I don't anticipate a centralized management team being able to effectively oversee such a large area," says the manager of one existing body that would be combined with three others.

Ontario Updates Plan to Consolidate Conservation Authorities

On March 10, 2026, the Province of Ontario announced its revised framework for the consolidation of Conservation Authorities. Under this proposed update, Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities will be merged into nine. The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) will merge with the Upper Thames River, Lower Thames Valley, and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities to form the new Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority. The Provin…