Watershed Security for Ontario
Background: OHI is a member of several coalitions and/or supports sister organizations focused on land-use planning, reduced environmental safeguards, and recent restrictions to various legal and democratic processes. However, we believe that Watershed Security is the best lens to assure sound land use planning, and that land use and watershed planning should be integrated at the municipal level. In addition to our own efforts as described below, we have launched the Ontario Coalition for Watershed Security, found here.
Updates
April 17, 2026: Schedule 3, Bill 97 – The OHI calls for draft legislation to consolidate conservation authorities and create a provincial Conservation Agency to be withdrawn and replaced with the development of a Green Paper on the Future of Watershed Management in Ontario.
See our submission at OHI to Standing Committee on Bill 97 April 17
Sign the petition at (coming soon).
April 16, 2026: The OHI and the Great Lakes Ecoregion Network seek comment on draft recommendations to improve Physical Integrity and Watershed Security under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, to be submitted to Canada and the US at a meeting in early June. You can see the full package of dates and draft recommendations at Request for Comment to Better Implement the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement April 16.
Request for Comment to Better Implement the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement April 16.
Register via andrew at ontarioheadwaters.ca to submit comments, get updates, and be invited to a webinar to be held at 6 pm April 29. Comments due May 7, followed by an invitation to sign on to the final submission.
See our Educational Posters
January 2026: Due to a website error, please see the re-post of The Municipal Lens for Watershed Security, re-posted January 2026.
December 8, 2025 See our earlier submission on the government’s proposal to consolidate conservation authorities under the purview of a Provincial Conservation Agency and instead commit to developing a Green Paper on the Future of Watershed Management in Ontario. While this was updated in April, as above, you can read our initial submission here: OHI on ERO 025-1257 December 8 2025.
November 2025: The initial poster in this series depicts the continuum of watershed security in all sections of a watershed, with reference to the hydrologic cycle, municipal actions to integrate land use and watershed planning, and the need for enhanced stewardship efforts from all sectors and on private lands. See The OHI Watershed Security Poster Nov 2025
You can support the OHI by making a donation via https://ontarioheadwaters.ca/support/