Plan to create new Huron-Superior conservation authority draws criticism from both northern, southern Ontario

Ontario’s plan to shrink the number of conservation authorities from 36 to seven is drawing concern from agencies across the province, who warn it could weaken emergency response, erase local expertise and stretch watershed management across unmanageable distances.

Conservation authorities protect people and property from natural hazards, safeguard drinking water sources, and manage conservation lands, trails, and recreational and educational facilities.

The provincial plan is open for public comment until late December. It aims to reduce overlap between conservation authorities by about 63 per cent and, according to the government, would make services more efficient while maintaining the same mandate.

Under the proposal, the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority in Thunder Bay, would be grouped with southern Ontario authorities including the Lake Simcoe Region, Nottawasaga Valley, Grey Sauble, Saugeen Valley, Maitland Valley, and Ausable Bayfield to form the new Huron-Superior Regional Conservation Authority.

However, authorities in Thunder Bay and across the province warn the changes could fundamentally alter Ontario’s ability to respond to flooding, erosion, drought and climate-driven weather extremes.

Tammy Cook, CAO of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA), says the province’s proposal overlooks the realities of northern watersheds and underestimates the importance of local watershed knowledge.

“Our first surprise was that we weren't grouped with the other four northern conservation authorities that are located in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins and North Bay,” said Cook. “We just hope that the focus for all the resources isn't where the most population is, that we aren't left forgotten in the north if our governance is coming from the south.”

Tim Lanthier, CAO of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, says the consolidation would significantly increase the size of his region and compromise emergency response.

“So from 3,200 square kilometres to 23,000 square kilometres,” he said. “I have concerns about what that looks like in terms of providing boots on the ground service to our communities.”

Lanthier says the province is not accounting for how time-sensitive the day-to-day response is.

“If I look at our watershed and I think about how long it takes us to traverse it from one corner to another, it's two hours of driving,” he explained. “When you ramp that up to 23,000 square kilometres, it's not practical to do that.”

Lanthier also raised concerns about added bureaucracy and costs.

“We're adding a couple of layers of administration and bureaucracy to this by now having a regional office and the administration that goes along with that,” he said. “It's our understanding from the legislation that those costs are to be borne by the conservation authorities, which then, by default, proportion that cost back out to the municipalities.”

Rob Baldwin, CAO of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, says the proposal raises serious questions about provincial accountability and local decision-making.