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STRATFORD VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 33
23 FREE
APRIL 3, 2026
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UTRCA expects significant costs for consolidation
CONNOR LUCZKA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
While staff and the board of directors for the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) don’t anticipate cuts to service levels or relative funding for the area, they do expect a significant cost born from the plan to consolidate the province’s 36 conservation areas (CAs) into regional authorities. “There’s lots of moving parts with this,” said Tracy Annett, general manager of the UTRCA, at its March 24 meeting. “... There’s still a lot of detail expected to come, and those details being through amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act. “... We recognize there’s going to be significant costs for transition,” Annett went on to say. “Everything from IT systems, rebranding, policy and staffing harmonization. I look at the $3 million across the province and don’t think that’s quite adequate.” The $3 million Annett was referring to is the fund the Province of Ontario will endow to the newly created Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), which will oversee the transition of CAs into their regional counterparts. As she said, that fund is meant to assist all 36 conservation authorities. The OPCA was created late last year, when the province also indicated its desire to consolidate its CAs. Through Bill 68, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act, an CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
(EMILY STEWART PHOTO)
Liam Carter’s sign addresses several concerns, including cuts to OSAP, defunding healthcare and privatization. Carter was one of many protestors at Stratford Hall on March 28.
Stratford residents participate in Ontariowide protest against Premier Doug Ford EMILY STEWART Times Correspondent
A group of protestors of all ages addressed a variety of concerns marching around Stratford City Hall on a snowy Saturday morning. The Fight Ford protest outside of city hall on March 28 was part of a province-wide Fight Ford protest that addressed the disapproval of Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his government’s actions and plans. Some passing by the protest honked their horns in solidarity or praised the movement when walking by.
Protestors carried a variety of signs addressing concerns over the cuts to the OSAP program, as well as health care privatization, environmental concerns and Bill 5, also known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. Bill 5 allows the government to move forward with projects without restrictions like existing laws. The bill has received a lot of criticism for its potential environmental impact. "There's only an hour; we could spend two hours talking about Ford because he's done so much to anCONTINUED TO PAGE 3