The Ford government proposed comprehensive changes to housing and planning regulations this week in an attempt to accelerate housing development, but some proposals raised concerns that the government is moving toward protecting the environment surrounding development. The proposed legislation includes changes to 36 conservation authorities in the province, which currently manage environmental concerns around future developments. They will not be able to consider factors such as pollution and land conservation when evaluating the proposal, as the province also wants to consider building homes on some protected lands it owns. Similarly, Shriner told reporters: "Narrowing the powers of conservation puts people's properties at risk. The bottom line is, we shouldn't build homes on floodplains. I mean, look at what is happening in the East, Atlantic Canada now. Look at what was happening in British Columbia, with people losing properties. Conservation authority rules were introduced for a reason, and undermining this protection puts people's homes at risk." On Friday, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority board passed a resolution formally calling on the province to repeal parts of the bill that seek to limit the jurisdiction of conservation authorities and to enhance the definitions of waterways and wetlands rather than narrow them. The organization said: "Municipalities rely on our feedback in the planning process, and removing us from this process alongside weak regulations will lead to the destruction of forests, wetlands, and streams," adding: "If the government succeeds in removing TRCA from these processes, it greatly increases the risk of making development decisions that endanger the lives of Ontarians and their properties and critical infrastructure, including new housing proposals in flood-prone areas."

Also, in an interview with CP24 on Wednesday, Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark said he appreciates the work of the conservation authorities, but they must focus on climate change and flooding. Clark also stated: "We need our conservation authorities to focus on their core mandate, which is natural hazard and flood protection in light of the climate change challenges facing our communities. And we want to make sure as part of our consultation that we eliminate duplication concerning the development approval process; the process is long and there are many people involved in the process of getting a full housing supply and continuing."

As for the conservation authorities, which are primarily funded through municipalities and donations, they are responsible for managing local watersheds, as well as reviewing development proposals that could impact the local environment and approving them. Additionally, the concept of the conservation authority is unique in Ontario, where organizations began forming in the 1940s, and after Hurricane Hazel killed 81 people in Ontario in 1954, the province granted conservation authorities the power to acquire land for recreation and conservation purposes and to regulate that land for community safety.