"Ontario's conservation authorities are essential to watershed management and public safety across our province," he said. "Our government is committed to ensuring they remain strong, effective and ready to meet today's challenges. But right now, Ontario has 36 conservation authorities operating largely on their own, with fragmented and outdated data systems and a patchwork of standards and service delivery." More than 100 municipalities are currently within two or more conservation authorities' boundaries and are therefore subject to different rules and processes, McCarthy said.