Hassan Basit, Ontario's first Chief Conservation Officer, and Todd McCarthy, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, right, announce the proposed amalgamation of the province's 36 Conservation Authority jurisdictions into larger regional operations to streamline policies and programming during a press conference on Oct. 31, 2025

Conservation authorities to be amalgamated

Conservation sector reps fear job loss, less effective local delivery

Ontario’s plan to amalgamate Conservation Authorities into large regional jurisdictions raises concerns that political influences will replace science-based decision-making, impacting flood management and community support.