Area 8 Conservation Area in Milton (Cameron Wilkinson, 2022)
Conservation Halton has issued a statement regarding the proposed Bill 97.
The Government of Ontario is proposing major changes to how conservation authorities operate across the province as part of its 2026 budget legislation. Introduced on March 26th, 2025, Bill 97 includes amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act that would consolidate Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into nine larger regional bodies.
Under the proposal, Conservation Halton would merge with Credit Valley Conservation, Hamilton Conservation Authority, and Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to form the new Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority.
If approved, the transition would be completed by February 1st, 2027. Officials say the goal is to create a more streamlined and coordinated approach to watershed management across the region.
Despite the proposed changes, Conservation Halton says residents can expect no disruption to current services during the transition. Programs such as planning and permitting, environmental education, stewardship initiatives, and access to conservation areas will continue as usual.
The organization adds it remains focused on its core responsibilities, including flood protection, watershed management, and connecting communities with nature, while working with provincial and municipal partners as more details about the transition become available.
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at:
- News1013@LocalRadio.ca (Milton)
- News1015@LocalRadio.ca (Orangeville)
- News92@LocalRadio.ca (South Simcoe)
- Rick.Sargent@LocalRadio.ca (Bolton)
If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
