SNC RAISES CONCERNS AS PROVINCE PROPOSES MAJOR OVERHAUL OF CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES "$56"-*5 4r/&84
and Service Impacts SNC also flagged the limited detail provi- ded in the province’s proposal. Municipalities and Indigenous communities received mini- mal notice, and no cost-benefit analysis, tran- sition plan, or clarity on land transfers and municipal agreements has been provided. The organization points out that provincial reports, including the Housing Affordability Task Force, do not identify conservation authorities as a barrier to development, and SNC’s own permitting process already meets or exceeds provincial timelines, issuing more than 98 per cent of permits on time. SNC warns that full consolidation could increase costs, disrupt services, and divert resources away from frontline conservation during a period of growing climate-driven natural hazards. Donor Lands and Bilingual Services at Risk Much of SNC’s land base was donated by local residents with the expectation of permanent, local stewardship. Transferring these lands to a larger regional body could jeopardize charitable trust obligations, donor intent, conservation easements, and muni- cipal agreements. As the only bilingual conservation autho- rity in Southern Ontario, SNC also cautions that any change must protect French-lan- guage services under the French Language Services Act. Province Seeks Feedback on Boundaries, Governance, and Transition The Environmental Registry posting outlines the criteria used to draw the new regional boundaries, including watershed alignment, municipal relationships, capacity balancing, and service continuity. The province is asking the public and municipalities to comment on several key questions, including what factors would support a successful regional transition, how regional governance should be structured, how budgeting should remain transparent,
and how to maintain strong ties with local communities. SNC Encourages Public Input SNC will submit formal comments along- side its member municipalities and Conser- vation Ontario, and encourages residents to participate in the public consultation by December 22, 2025. “Healthy watersheds are the foundation of healthy communities and strong local econo- mies,” SNC said, noting that modernization should build on the strengths of existing conservation authorities rather than replace them. “SNC supports the province’s goal of improving service delivery, strengthening natural hazard management, and enhancing digital permitting tools to help streamline the development process.” The ERO posting and full details on the proposed regional boundaries can be viewed at ERO Notice #025-1257.
management, flood forecasting, permitting, and watershed health, but with greater consistency, more digital tools, and faster approvals. SNC Warns of Loss of Local Governance and Rural Representation SNC, however, is urging caution. The organization emphasizes that Conser- vation Authorities were designed as locally governed, watershed-based agencies created and funded by municipalities, a model that reflects real hydrology and local priorities. Today, municipalities fund roughly 97 per cent of SNC’s operations, with provincial support having dwindled to 3 per cent. SNC warns that the proposed restructu- ring could erode local accountability, rural representation, watershed-specific science and technical expertise, donor trust related to conservation lands, bilingual service obli- gations, and municipal service agreements and emergency response capacity. SNC argues that consistency and moder- nization can be achieved without removing local governance or creating large regional bodies that may be distant from community needs. Services Continue Uninterrupted Despite the uncertainty, SNC stressed that all watershed programs remain fully operational across its 4,480-km2 jurisdic- tion. These include natural hazard permit- ting, watershed planning, flood forecasting and low-water response, drinking water source protection, forestry, restoration, and stewardship, agricultural cost-share programs, and management of more than 13,000 acres of conservation lands. SNC notes that conservation authorities are the only environmental agencies with “boots on the ground,” conducting site visits, local monitoring, and emergency response in coordination with municipalities and landowners. Concerns About Transparency On Friday night, November 21, Embrun made the most of limited opportunities, striking twice in the second period to take control of a game where they were heavily outshot. Despite being outshot 58–23, the Pan- thers capitalized on key chances. Tomy Lariviere scored the first goal of the game at 12:56 of the second period, with the help of Wyatt Leblanc and Frederic Solesme. Less than two minutes later, Xavier Boulanger, with the help of Justin Raymond, doubled the lead on the power play. Casselman scored their first and only
GABRIELLE VINETTE gabriellevinette@eap.on.ca
South Nation Conservation (SNC) is reviewing the Ontario government’s proposal to significantly restructure the province’s environmental oversight system by amending the Conservation Authorities Act and consolidating Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven regional bodies. The proposal, posted on the Environmen- tal Registry of Ontario (ERO #025-1257) on November 7, 2025, is open for public comment until December 22, 2025. Province Proposes Seven Regional Conservation Authorities The Ministry of the Environment, Conser- vation and Parks say the existing network of 36 authorities has created “fragmented” policies, inconsistent timelines, and uneven levels of technical capacity. To address these issues, the province is proposing to create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency, a new board-governed body that would provide centralized oversight. Conservation authori- ties would then be consolidated into seven large regional agencies, each aligned to major watershed systems, Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority, Huron–Superior Re- gional Conservation Authority, Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority, Central Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority, Eastern Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority, St. Lawrence Regio- nal Conservation Authority, and Northeastern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority. SNC would fall under the proposed St. Lawrence Regional Conservation Authority, encompassing watersheds that drain into the St. Lawrence River, including today’s South Nation and Raisin Region jurisdictions. The province states that the new system would continue to focus on natural hazard
The Panthers added two more in the second period. The first one was by Alexis Méthot, with the help of Leblanc, at 13:51 and Lariviere, with the help of Remi Gendron and Leblanc, at 18:04, his second goal of the weekend. In the third, Blanchard extended the lead to 4–0 with another power-play goal at 7:10. In total, 14 penalties were given out, four of them going to the Panthers. The team will face off against the Perth Blue Wings on Friday, November 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the Perth & District Community Centre. SNC continues its on-the-ground watershed work as the Province of Ontario proposes consolidating 36 conservation authorities into seven regional bodies under a new provincial agency. The restructuring plan is now open for public comment on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO #025-1257). (SNC)
PANTHERS EARN WINS AGAINST CASSELMAN AND GLENGARRY
GABRIELLE VINETTE gabriellevinette@eap.on.ca
goal during the third period. In total, there were two penalties which were given to the Vikings. Embrun’s goaltender, Sebastion Bour- geau kept away 58 shots on goal.
The Embrun Panthers delivered an impressive weekend performance, securing back-to-back victories that showcased both their resilience and their firepower. Embrun opened with a 2–1 win over the Casselman Vikings on Friday before rolling to a commanding 4–0 shutout against the Glengarry Brigade on Saturday. Panthers Edge Vikings in Defensive Battle
Howell’s Shutout Leads Panthers Past Glengarry
The Panthers carried their momentum into Saturday in a decisive 4–0 victory over the Glengarry Brigade. Embrun struck early, with Boulanger, with the help of Yanick Blanchard, opening the scoring just past the five-minute mark during the first period.
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