[getsmart-l] Lake Simcoe clean up announcement from Feds

[Janet May]

Ottawa plunges into lake health 

  

Georgina 

Oct 13, 2007 07:27 AM 

$12-million Ottawa promises to clean lake 
By: Sean Pearce 

Federal Environment Minister John Baird made a stop in Jackson's Point
Friday with an announcement designed to PROPEL the efforts to clean up Lake
Simcoe into the future.

Braving blustery and chilly weather on the shores of Lake Simcoe with fellow
cabinet minister and York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan and newly re-elected MPP
Julia Munro, Mr. Baird said Ottawa will make good on the pledge it made in
March this year and award $12 million to clean up the lake.

He also spoke about the creation of a new organizational body dubbed the
Protect and Preserve the Environment of Lake Simcoe (PROPEL) committee.

"Our government believes that clean, safe and secure water is something all
Canadians should have the right to enjoy," Mr. Baird said. 

"That is why I am pleased to announce the creation of the PROPEL committee.
The valuable work of this committee will complement the government's work to
ensure that the cleanup and protection of Lake Simcoe continues to move
forward."

The PROPEL committee, Mr. Baird said, will be comprised of a number of local
residents who come from all communities bordering Lake Simcoe. The
chairperson will be Richard Simpson, while other members of the committee
include Annabel Slaight, Robert Matthews, Paul Harpley, Jessica Richmond,
Susan Self, George Taylor, Neil Roe, Robert Bowles and David Edwards.

The $12 million allotted for cleanup on Lake Simcoe was just a portion of
the nearly $93 million earmarked as part of the federal government's
national water strategy.

"It's a good start," Mr. Baird said. "And there's still lots left to be
done."

Mr. Van Loan thanked Mr. Baird for the announcement and drew attention to
his lifelong attachment to the lake. He said the lake is of vital importance
to the area's tourism economy, environment and quality of life. The
announcement, Mr. Van Loan added, demonstrates the Conservative government's
continued commitment to the environment and also shows their willingness to
take into account the input of local residents when planning.

"The best solutions do not always come from a bunch of elected guys in
Ottawa," he said. "That's why it's important to have something such as this
local advisory board."

The new committee will be an important part of the strategy, Mr. Van Loan
said, because water quality and the environment is not a solely governmental
concern.

"It's great to have these people on board," he said. "The health of our
water is a shared responsibility. It will not be the responsibility of the
federal government alone . I would like the province to step forward and
match the funds."

The money from Ottawa would go toward reversing some of the damage done to
the lake over the years due to poorly planned development, sedimentation,
chemical run-off and phosphate build up.

Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority chairperson Virginia Hackson called the
announcement good news for the lake and a promise made good by the federal
government. The LSRCA is ready, willing and able to get under way with the
clean-up effort as soon as it gets direction from the newly created
committee, she said.

"I'm hoping we can get started almost immediately so that we can roll up our
sleeves and get started," Ms Hackson said. "We're just waiting for
directions and I understand (PROPEL) will assess some projects and let us
know where to begin."

"Environment Canada is responsible for the weather, but only the good
weather," he said. "Mr. McGuinty is responsible for the bad weather."

Liberal environment critic David McGuinty and former critic John Godfrey
were unavailable for comment by press time. 

 

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