The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 Ontario’s drinking water is protected by little-known committees, tied up in conservation authority changes https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-source-protection-conservation-authorities/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:41:14 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=158393 The groups were set up following the contamination crisis in Walkerton, Ont., and are still waiting for ‘clarity’ on how their work will continue after conservation authorities consolidate Fatima Syed and Matt McIntosh Investigation Conservation authorities fresh water Great Lakes Ontario Photo: Laura Proctor / The Narwhal A stream flows through a forested area in early spring, before the buds or any green vegetation has emerged. Ontario’s $20-million plan to merge 36 conservation authorities into nine https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authorities-final-plan/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:50:25 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=156464 The Doug Ford government’s proposal to amalgamate the watershed protection agencies received 14,000 public comments, with the final plan removing some controversial mergers Fatima Syed News Conservation authorities Great Lakes Ontario Photo: David Jackson / The Narwhal A duck swims across a small pond. How does the Ford government really feel about parks? https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-provincial-parks-protection/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=149431 The Ford government wants to build urban and adventure parks, even as it moves to take away land from existing protected areas Fatima Syed Analysis Conservation authorities Greenbelt Ontario Parks protected areas urban development Photo: Giordano Ciampini / The Canadian Press ‘Whiplash’ and ‘scar tissue’: conservation authorities grapple with Ontario’s most dramatic overhaul yet https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authorities-consolidation/ Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=148925 Nearly 80 years after their creation, the Doug Ford government is reducing the unique environmental agencies from 36 to 7, in a move staff say may ‘slow approvals, create confusion’ over development and flood protections Fatima Syed In-Depth Conservation authorities environmental law Great Lakes Ontario protected areas urban development water Illustration: Carol Linnitt / The Narwhal A photo illustration depicting Ontario Premier Doug Ford holding scissors in one hand and tape in the other, with the province's proposed new boundaries for conservation areas in the background. Ford government wants more power over Ontario’s drinking water https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-bill-56-clean-water-act/ Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=147604 Move to support ‘housing and infrastructure development’ comes 25 years after fatal tragedy in Walkerton that spurred creation of the Clean Water Act Carl Meyer News Conservation authorities environmental law Great Lakes Ontario water Photo: Chris Young / The Canadian Press Man in a blue suit drinks from a water bottle with Ontario flag in background. New year, new power: Ford government can now overrule conservation authorities https://thenarwhal.ca/new-year-new-power-ford-government-can-now-overrule-conservation-authorities/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:50:32 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=129024 As of Jan. 1, the Ontario government has new rules for how and when it can permit development that oversteps the organizations tasked with watershed protection Fatima Syed News Conservation authorities Ontario urban development Photo: Christopher Katsarov Luna / The Narwhal An aerial view of a developed city surrounded by trees with a large lake in the horizon ‘You start with us’: conservation authority head has parting message for Ontario government https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authority-halton-basit/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=103147 After 20 years with Conservation Halton, Hassaan Basit reflects on Doug Ford’s cuts and how to enable development while protecting nature and future generations Fatima Syed In-Depth Conservation authorities environmental law Ontario urban development Photo: Conservation Halton Conservation Halton CEO Hassaan Basit Ontario weakens watershed protections (again) as natural resources minister gets new powers https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authorities-changes/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=101951 New rules for conservation authorities reduce buffer zones between development and wetlands and empower Doug Ford’s cabinet to issue permits without their say Fatima Syed News Conservation authorities environmental law Ontario urban development Illustration: Simone Williamson / The Narwhal An illustration of someone putting a house on a chess board-esque land that is flooding Doug Ford to gut Ontario’s conservation authorities, citing stalled housing https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authorities-development/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 22:54:03 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=62298 In a massive overhaul of urban development planning, the Ontario government looks to take power away from the agencies that help prevent flooding — again Fatima Syed and Emma McIntosh News Bill 23 Conservation authorities Ontario urban development water Photo: Christopher Katsarov Luna / The Narwhal An aerial photo of Burlington, Ont., with a subdivision next to a wooded area. Cuts, conflict and collaboration: how the Ford government built a bridge to conservation authorities https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-conservation-authorities-doug-ford/ Wed, 24 Nov 2021 19:18:52 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=39372 Ontario’s watershed watchers have a sordid history with the Progressive Conservatives, but maybe things are looking up Fatima Syed In-Depth Conservation authorities Doug Ford environmental law Ontario Ontario election 2022 Photo: Christopher Katsarov Luna / The Narwhal Ontario, Doug Ford, conservation authorities