The two conservation authorities serving Chatham-Kent are affirming their intention to work with the Ontario government as it makes major changes to the province’s conservation authority system.
Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, has announced that the province intends to create a board-governed agency called the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, which will oversee all of the province’s conservation authorities.
McCarthy said the agency will provide centralized leadership, efficient governance and strategic direction to conservation authorities. There are currently 36 conservation authorities in Ontario, which the province plans to consolidate into seven larger regional ones.
Consultation will be conducted on the proposed boundaries for the regional conservation authorities with stakeholders, municipalities, existing conservation authorities, and Indigenous communities.
The Lower Thames Valley and St. Clair Region conservation authorities have both released statements indicating that they are committed to working with the province throughout this process.
Chatham-Kent currently shares both conservation authorities, with most landowners falling under the jurisdiction of the Lower Thames Valley watershed, while Wallaceburg and Dresden are part of the St. Clair Region watershed.
The provincial government has emphasized that there will be no job losses as a result of this restructuring, and it is committed to working with local conservation authorities to ensure continuity of local services.
