Premier Doug Ford has created a new position of Chief Conservation Executive and has appointed Hassaan Basit of Hamilton to the position.
Basit will be in charge of ensuring that Ford’s dictates last year are implemented, including limiting conservation authority activities to their core missions.
That put a number of programs into doubt, such as subsidies to farmers to reduce erosion and protect drinking water.
The news release said the move will “enhance the effectiveness of the province’s conservation authorities, which will create consistency, reduce costs and drive faster outcomes for the communities they serve.”