As Windsor, Ontario, navigates long-term infrastructure costs, Tim Byrne, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), has raised concerns about potential funding losses due to the provincial government’s plan to consolidate conservation authorities. Ontario aims to reduce its 36 conservation authorities to nine larger regional bodies by early 2027, with ERCA expected to merge into the new Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority. Byrne highlighted that ERCA has been instrumental in securing tens of millions of dollars for shoreline protection projects, including a $700,000 grant for recent restoration work on Peche Island. He warned that Windsor-specific projects may receive less attention under a larger authority, potentially leading to fewer grant applications and increased costs for local taxpayers. Byrne emphasized that Windsor's shoreline has unique characteristics, with much of it developed into parkland and residential areas, making local management crucial. He acknowledged that this might be one of his last opportunities to address the city council, having served ERCA for 41 years. Although the consolidation plan has not yet taken legal effect, transition planning is already in progress.