The mayors of Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon have expressed strong opposition to the Government of Ontario’s proposed plan to consolidate 36 conservation authorities into nine, warning that the move could pose significant risks to housing development timelines, environmental management and public safety across the region. In a joint position, Patrick Brown, Carolyn Parrish and Annette Groves have urged the province to pause the legislation and engage in comprehensive consultations with municipalities before proceeding further.
The proposed restructuring, led by the province’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, aims to streamline processes, reduce administrative duplication and accelerate housing and infrastructure development. However, municipal leaders argue that the current system, particularly through Credit Valley Conservation, is already exceeding provincial performance expectations, with permit approvals being delivered significantly faster than mandated timelines. They caution that dismantling an already efficient and locally responsive system could result in delays, uncertainty for developers and fewer housing projects moving forward.
Local leaders have also raised serious concerns about the potential impact on public safety, noting that conservation authorities play a critical role in flood forecasting, watershed management and environmental protection. They warn that transitioning to a larger, centralized system could disrupt established processes, weaken specialized local expertise and compromise the effectiveness of flood prevention and emergency response measures. The mayors emphasized that conservation authorities are not merely regulatory bodies, but essential partners in ensuring safe and sustainable community development.
In their statement, the municipalities highlighted that a one-size-fits-all approach may not adequately address the unique environmental and geographic conditions of different regions. They stressed that the existing model, which is locally governed and highly responsive, has proven effective in balancing growth with environmental protection and should be preserved.
While acknowledging the province’s goal of improving efficiency and supporting housing development, the mayors reiterated that any reforms must not come at the cost of public safety, environmental integrity or economic stability. They are calling on the provincial government to reconsider or delay the proposed changes until a thorough review and meaningful consultation process with municipalities and stakeholders is completed.
The province has indicated its intention to implement the consolidation by early 2027, but growing municipal opposition suggests the proposal may face increasing scrutiny in the months ahead.