A News Brief from the Canadian Environmental Law Association
Posted November 28th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Ontario’s watershed-based Conservation Authorities (CAs) are essential to protecting drinking water, reducing flood risk, conserving natural areas, and monitoring watershed health.
Over the past decade, a number of provincial changes (made by the Ford government) have narrowed CA powers, redefined what programs CAs are allowed to deliver, and increased provincial control over permitting, land use, and budgets.
Further changes were announced earlier this month. Bill 68, the provincial budget bill, establishes the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency. At the time of writing, Bill 68 had passed third reading without committee consideration.
Additionally, the province announced a plan to amalgamate Ontario’s 36 watershed-based conservation authorities into 7 regional agencies.
The proposed boundaries are posted on the Environmental Registry (https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257) with a closing date (for the public to comment to the government on the registry to these boundary changes) of December 22, 2025
CELA is carefully tracking this proposal and will continue to assess its potential impacts on drinking water protection, climate resilience, and community health.
About the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) – Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a legal aid clinic dedicated to environmental equity, justice, and health.
Founded in 1970, CELA is one of the oldest advocates for environmental protection in the country. With funding from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), CELA provides free legal services relating to environmental justice in Ontario, including representing low-income and vulnerable or disadvantaged communities in litigation. CELA also works on environmental legal education and reform initiatives.
To learn more about CELA, visit its website by clicking on the following link – https://www.cela.ca
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