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Shoreline Flood Status 

Watershed Flood Status

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The ERCA Board of Directors supports the province's stated goals of improved efficiency and consistency. However, it also encourages our watershed partners and interest-holders to carefully evaluate the Province’s proposal to consolidate the CAs. A pause for real dialogue with municipalities, Indigenous communities, and local partners would go a long way toward building a solution that actually delivers on the province’s goals, as this proposal has serious, long-lasting implications for local watershed management.  

    

  1. Submit your comments at https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257  

  2. Provide comments to your local Member of Provincial Parliament 

Proposed Consolidation of Conservation Authorities

On March 26, 2026, the Province of Ontario introduced Bill 97 – An Act to Implement Budget Measures. Schedule 3 of the bill which includes significant changes the Conservation Authorities Act. If approved, Ontario’s existing conservation authorities will be consolidated into nine new Regional Conservation Authorities (RCAs).  The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) will merge with the Upper Thames River, Lower Thames Valley, and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities to form the new Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority.

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What Is Changing?

Under Bill 97, all existing conservation authorities will be fully absorbed into newly established Regional Conservation Authorities. This includes the automatic transfer of all assets, liabilities, agreements, permits, enforcement actions, and advisory boards to the new entities.

 

Governance will change as well. Representation on Regional Conservation Authority boards will shift to single-tier and upper-tier municipalities, with representation primarily based on population. Board composition details will be set through provincial regulation, with limits on total representation and options for alternative appointment approaches where municipalities unanimously agree.

The Ontario Provincial Conservation Authority (OPCA) will establish transition committees and appoint a Project Executive, who will serve as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of each new Regional Conservation Authority for up to two years.  Transition teams will include a board member and a CAO/General Manager or senior staff designate from each merging conservation authority.

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What This Means for ERCA

ERCA will be merged with the Upper Thames River, Lower Thames Valley, and St. Clair Region Conservation Authorities to form the Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority. The consolidation is expected to take place by early 2027.  

Key points for our region include:

  • All ERCA employees will transition to the Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority.

  • The Province has also stated that local expertise and well-established relationships with municipalities, developers, and builders, and local offices, will be retained within the new structure.

  • ​Throughout this transition process, ERCA will continue to provide its programs and services without disruption, including conservation areas and trails, drinking water source protection, watershed management services, stewardship programs, agricultural extension services, and education programs.   

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What Happens Next?

While the overall framework for consolidation has been outlined in Bill 97, many operational and governance details are still to be determined. ERCA, along with our regional partners, is awaiting further provincial guidance so that detailed transition planning can begin.  

 

Our Ongoing Commitment

Throughout this transition, ERCA remains firmly committed to protecting local watersheds and the residents of the Windsor-Essex County-Pelee Island region. We will continue to deliver conservation, flood protection, and watershed-based services that our communities rely on, while working collaboratively to ensure a smooth and effective transition to the new Regional Conservation Authority for our watershed residents and stakeholders.

 

Further updates will be shared as more information becomes available. If you would like to provide comments to your local Member of Provincial Parliament and the Minister of the Environment, you can do so here:

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Other Resources:

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