MVCA Statement on Conservation Authority Amalgamation

From the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority

On March 10, 2026, the Minister of Environment, Conservation & Parks announced the government’s decision regarding amalgamation of Ontario’s conservation authorities. 

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) is to be amalgamated with Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (CA), South Nation CA, and Raisin Region CA to form the St. Lawrence River Regional CA. Highlights of the new service delivery model and transition approach are summarized below. 

During the transition period, we will continue to serve our communities with professionalism, and work with our CA partners to facilitate a smooth transition to the new regional organization. We thank our 11 member municipalities and the many lake associations and others for the support they showed MVCA over the past several months and for the many partnerships and successes of the past 50+ years. 

The staff of MVCA are committed to bringing our expertise and local knowledge to the new regional CA and to continuing to work with our communities for the conservation, restoration, and management of natural resources in the Mississippi, Carp and Ottawa river watersheds.

Transition

• The government will table legislation shortly to implement the amalgamations.
• The transition is to occur over one year with the goal of a new corporation in place by February 1, 2027.
• Upon approval of the legislation, the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) will:

• • Establish a Transition Committee for each region.
  • Invite current boards to appoint a representative to the committee.
  • Appoint a project executive to chair the Transition Committee who will serve as the CAO of the new regional CA for up to 2 years.

Governance

• Board governance will move to the City/County level.
  • Board appointee numbers are to be based upon representation by population, as is currently the case.
  • An upset limit of five members from any one jurisdiction may be imposed to ensure representation from all counties and to manage board sizes.
• Local municipal input is to be achieved through the establishment of advisory Watershed Councils with at least one council to be established per regional CA.

Funding

• The model is to stay the same except move up a tier from local municipalities to the county level and single-tier municipalities (i.e. City of Ottawa).
• The province has approved $20 million for start up of the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA).
• The province has approved $3 million in Year 1 to support transition to the nine regional CAs.

For more information regarding the amalgamation visit the ERO website  and OPCA website.