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ARTICLE · 27 AUGUST 2026

Flooded With Change: Ontario’s New Proposals For Provincial Watershed Management

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The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (“MECP”), Ontario’s administrator of the Conservation Authorities Act (the “CA Act”), and the Ministry of Natural Resources...

CanadaEnvironment
Talia Gordner
Talia Gordner
Marc Kemerer
Marc Kemerer
Alison McGarry
Alison McGarry
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The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (“MECP”), Ontario’s administrator of the Conservation Authorities Act (the “CA Act”), and the Ministry of Natural Resources (“MNR”) have each announced proposals for new guidance and regulations relating to conservation lands and flood management, each of which are discussed in this bulletin.

First, the MNR published a proposal on June 12, 2026 to update the technical guidance used by municipalities and conservation authorities with respect to mapping, identifying and managing flood hazards.1 The primary intention of this proposal is the modernization of the MNR’s 2002 Technical Guide – “River & Stream Systems: Flooding Hazard Limit” guidance document ( the “Technical Guide”). The comment period for this guidance has closed as of the date of this bulletin.

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