Ontario Taking Action to Make Conservation Authorities More Effective

June 30, 2025

• Ontario is taking action to enhance the effectiveness of the province’s conservation authorities, which will create consistency, reduce costs and drive faster outcomes for the communities they serve.
• Hassaan Basit, a well-respected and non-partisan leader with extensive experience with local conservation authorities, will support these efforts in a newly created role as the Chief Conservation Executive.
• With Mr. Basit’s help and advice, the province will look for ways to build on the progress we have achieved over the past 6 years to further improve the operations of conservation authorities, ensuring they remain focused, effective and ready to meet the needs of Ontario’s growing population. Details on these plans will be shared as they are available.
• Ontario’s conservation authorities play a vital role in watershed management and protecting communities from natural hazards like floods.
• Since 2019, Ontario has been working to improve the operations of conservation authorities to better ensure they have the required tools to protect the communities they serve, through legislative and regulatory changes that have significantly improved governance, oversight, transparency and accountability of conservation authorities, while streamlining decision-making processes.