Barrie 
Ontario is moving ahead with a major overhaul of its conservation authority system, aiming to shrink the current 36 agencies into nine regional bodies.
The plan, led by the newly created Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, or OPCA, is expected to take shape through amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act this spring. If approved, most of the changes would come into effect in early 2027.
At the centre of the shift is consolidation. The province initially proposed seven regional authorities, but that number has now been revised to nine after a 45 day consultation period from November 7 to December 22, 2025 Stakeholders raised concerns about size, local representation and environmental differences across regions, prompting adjustments to boundaries.
This means that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has been merged with Central Lake Ontario, and the Lake Erie region is split into eastern and western bodies. Meanwhile, Lakehead Region will keep its existing boundaries but adopt a new name: Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority.
The proposed nine new regional CAs:
Central Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority
- Central Lake Ontario CA
- Toronto and Region CA
Eastern Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority
- Catfish Creek CA
- Grand River CA
- Kettle Creek CA
- Long Point Region CA
Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority
- Cataraqui Region CA
- Crowe Valley CA
- Ganaraska Region CA
- Lower Trent Region CA
- Otonabee Region CA
- Quinte CA
- Kawartha Region CA
Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority
- Ausable Bayfield CA
- Grey Sauble CA
- Lake Simcoe Region CA
- Maitland Valley CA
- Nottawasaga Valley CA
- Saugeen Valley CA
Northeastern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority
- Mattagami Region CA
- Nickel District CA
- North Bay Mattawa CA
- Sault Ste. Marie Region CA
Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority
- Lakehead Region CA
St. Lawrence River Regional Conservation Authority
- Mississippi Valley CA
- Raisin Region CA
- Rideau Valley CA
- South Nation River CA
Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority
- Essex Region CA
- Lower Thames Valley CA
- St. Clair Region CA
- Upper Thames River CA
Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority
- Credit Valley CA
- Halton Region CA
- Hamilton Region CA
- Niagara Peninsula CA
To support the transition, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks announced a $3 million annual fund on March 10, 2026. The funding will help OPCA coordinate the restructuring and minimize disruptions over the next year
Despite the scale of the changes, the province says core responsibilities will remain intact. Flood protection, drinking water source protection and environmental regulation will continue under the new structure, with municipalities still involved in governance
Officials argue the new model will reduce administrative overlap and free up resources for frontline conservation work, while keeping decisions grounded in local input and science.
