“This is just chaos”: UTRCA board opposes consolidation of conservation authorities
- Connor Luczka
- Dec 11
- 5 min read
CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
At the most recent Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s board of directors meeting on Nov. 25, Brian Petrie, mayor of Ingersoll and one of the UTRCA’s directors, warned that municipalities need to wake up.
“I think the problem I have with what’s going on now, and generally the government’s scope, is that local governance model – whether its school boards, health units, municipalities, conservation authorities – is being lost and turned into an administrative role to levy our residents for money that the government changes their priorities on …” Petrie said. “Unfortunately, if we don’t wake up as municipalities and put the brakes on here and fight back … that’s where I think the message needs to be.”
Petrie was speaking on the Province of Ontario’s proposal to consolidate 36 conservation authorities into seven large regional authorities. The UTRCA, which covers an area of 3,421 square kilometres and is focused on conservation, flood control and the preservation of the watershed, is proposed to amalgamate with Catfish Creek CA, Essex Region CA, Grand River CA, Kettle Creek CA, Long Point Region CA, Lower Thames Valley CA and St. Clair Region CA to form the Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority. The proposed authority stretches as southwest as Windsor and as north as Shelburne. Within its boundaries there would be 81 municipalities and, to put that into perspective, the UTRCA is currently composed of 17 municipalities.
As presented by Tracy Annett, general manager of the UTRCA, there are not many concrete steps put in place by the province yet. So far, it has made changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, including the establishment of a new agency, the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, to provide leadership, governance and strategic direction to conservation authorities. The changes to the Act were part of Bill 68, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act, which was introduced and passed without any consultation.
The province’s news release on the proposed change states legislation to create a new Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency will be released soon. The goal of the change is “improving the province’s conservation authority system to help get shovels in the ground faster on homes and other local infrastructure projects, while strengthening the vital role conservation authorities play in managing watersheds and protecting communities from floods and natural hazards.”
Petrie was only one of many directors to voice their frustrations with the idea. Skylar Franke, London city councillor, called the legislation “absolute garbage” and “a big time waste.”
“This is just chaos,” said Tom Heeman of Thames Centre. “… What we’re looking at it’s the freight train of inevitability … the reality is that this is going to have chaos for the next four years. This is also downloading from the province because that board is going to be funded by municipal taxpayers.”
In a recorded vote, a motion to oppose the consolidation was nearly unanimous. Only Peter Cuddy, a London city councillor, was in opposition.
In a Dec. 8 post on its website, and in accordance with the sentiments of its board, the UTRCA has advised the public to tell the province a few key messages while its public comment period is still active, including:
Reduce the size of the proposed region
“The proposed Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority is much too large to remain responsive and effective,” the UTRCA advises. “The province should consider smaller, more focused regional models that improve efficiency while preserving local knowledge and relationships.”
Ensure local representation in governance
“The UTRCA was created in 1947 as a partnership between member municipalities to use local knowledge and expertise to make decisions regarding the management of the watershed’s natural resources,” the UTRCA advises. “The 17 watershed municipalities appoint a board of 15 members who determine the programs and services the UTRCA provides to watershed communities. A single board representing 81 municipalities will dilute local voices. The governance model must ensure meaningful local representation that balances rural and urban priorities and interests, so watershed priorities remain community driven.”
Keep conservation local
“Local conservation staff and offices understand the water, land, people and challenges of the Upper Thames River watershed in ways centralized decision-makers cannot,” the UTRCA advises. “Decisions made from afar will not reflect the area’s unique environmental, agricultural, and community needs. Local expertise is essential for public safety, environmental protection, and the delivery of effective community services.”
Protect existing programs and services
“The UTRCA delivers programs that directly support the unique requests and needs of watershed landowners, municipalities and communities,” the UTRCA advises. “Our residents value our species-at-risk initiatives (turtles and fish), environmental education for students, specialized technical advice and outdoor recreation – but these are just some of the programs that may be lost under a centralized, standardized regional model. These locally developed services must be protected. A regional model may lead to reduced service levels, loss of expertise or diminished community access for local residents.”
Support efficient planning and permitting
“UTRCA provides timely responses and approvals that meet or exceed provincial timelines,” the UTRCA advises. “In 2024, 99 per cent of permit applications were completed within the provincial guidelines. Regionalizing permitting must not create delays, bottlenecks or reduced access to technical expertise.”
Ensure fair and transparent funding
“A regional funding model must be fair to rural municipalities and avoid cost shifts that disadvantage small communities,” the UTRCA advises. “Member municipalities contribute 34 per cent of the UTRCA’s operating budget through levies and cost-sharing agreements, 34 per cent is self-generated through user fees and donations, and 30 per cent is obtained through applications to foundations and other levels of government to leverage municipal contributions and provide more robust programs to watershed residents. The provincial contributions represent just two per cent of the UTRCA’s operating budget.”
Recognize the value of UTRCA’s local assets
“The UTRCA owns and/or manages more than 5,790 hectares (14,300 acres) of land within the watershed,” the UTRCA advises. “Decisions about lands and resources should stay close to the communities that use and care for them.”
Maintain the principles of integrated watershed management
“Watershed decisions should be based on science, geography and local hydrology, not overly large administrative boundaries,” the UTRCA advises.
Ask the province to listen to local communities
“The province should carefully consider input from municipalities, landowners, conservation authorities and community groups before any final decision is made,” the UTRCA concludes.
Comments from the public will be accepted by the province until Dec. 22 at https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257.
The UTRCA is also asking the public to provide comments to their local MPP, who is Matthew Rae in Perth-Wellington.
With files from Jeff Helsdon, Tillsonburg Post editor.
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