The Auditor General has issued a scathing report on the inadequate protection of the environment by the Ford government across key sectors, including numerous breaches of consultation and other requirements under the Environmental Bill of Rights. Read the news report here. - In Georgian Bay we have seen an approval for destruction of Species at Risk habitat at Macey Bay, which ignored evidence of the harm this would cause, and MECP approving two inadequate sewage systems at Macey Bay and Brandy’s Cove, without properly reviewing them and assessing the potential environmental impacts. Read more here. -  

As we hoped, the phase in period for eliminating the Hydro One seasonal rate class will be 10 years and will not start until January 1, 2023. GBA has worked with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) since this change was proposed to, first, try and stop it, and then get the best terms possible for affected customers, which includes the vast majority of GBA members on Hydro. Read more here.

This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & St Clair are down 6, 4, & 5 inches respectively and Lakes Erie and Ontario are up 0 & 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, & St Clair are lower by 14, 17, & 6 inches, respectively, and Lakes Erie & Ontario

Township of Georgian Bay councilor Peter Cooper is leading the charge on getting support to create an environmental education and research centre named for the late Bill Davis. The proposed centre intends to serve as a campus for specialty courses and field research on the Great Lakes as well as a platform for Indigenous knowledge. - GBA will continue to examine the proposal and hold discussions with potential stakeholders. Read more here. -

The temperature throughout the basin has been above normal so far in November and is predicted to remain above normal through the coming week. - This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & St Clair are down 5, 5, & 2 inches respectively and Lakes Erie and Ontario are up 0 & 3 inches

For more than 14 hours, wastewater overflowed at the Collingwood wastewater treatment facility and was discharged into Georgian Bay without going through the treatment process. The town announced a “full treatment bypass” occurred on Sept. 23, lasting 14.5 hours. There was also a “partial bypass” for 21.5 hours during rainstorms the next week. Read about the incidents here. The recent sewage overflow in Collingwood into Georgian Bay highlights the need for governments at all levels to work together and apply more resources to the prevention of future sewage overflows. Unlike some other impacts on water quality, such as rising algae blooms that are caused by higher water temperatures, sewage overflows are fully preventable with the application of preventative measures. We need to d

Long-serving MPP Norm Miller has decided not to run in the 2022 Ontario general election. Norm has served the residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka as part of the Ontario PC Caucus for over 20 years. Read Norm's statement here. - Bracebridge Mayor and deputy chair of the District Municipality of Muskoka, Graydon Smith, has been named by the Ontario PC party as their candidate in the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka for the 2022 provincial election. Read more about Graydon Smith's work here.

Long-standing mayor McGarvey is the new president the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). AMO develops policy, cost-saving programs, conferences and training opportunities for Ontario’s 444 municipalities to meet common challenges and help maximize the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars. - Read more here. -

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is asking motorists to look out for vulnerable turtles on our roadways. Road surfaces provide an attractive source of warmth for these cold-blooded reptiles, particularly in the spring and early summer. During this time, turtles are mating and nesting; in late summer and early fall, newly hatched turtles are travelling from their nests to nearby wetlands. The Nature Conservatory of Canada has an informative video and tips for safely moving turtles. Watch the video and read the tips here.

Here are some things to think about around Fire Safety at the cottage: Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and working. Have a list of local emergency numbers posted for all to see. Include all pertinent cottage location information.   Have the right fire extinguishers in the right places. Have an individual fire plan for evacuation. Make sure your plan has two escape routes. Respect local fire ratings. Have a fire pump and use it regularly to ensure it is in good working order. At the very least have a list of neighbours to call for assistance. Follow your association’s emergency plan if it exists. Make sure you have insurance. Make sure you understand what it covers and that it is adequate to rebuild and covers contents AND fire de

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has just released a useful guide on how to how we can all reduce our environmental footprints. Being a Guardian of the Bay also means doing what we can to reduce our individual consumption of carbon based fuels. - Here is a very good fact sheet and here is a full presentation on this topic. -

What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Cory Kozmik, Anthony Laforge, Samantha Noganosh, Chevaun Toulouse. We are the Lands and Resource Department for Magnetawan First Nation, in Britt, Ontario. - Source: Magnetawan First Nation Our connection to the Bay is the dense biodiversity that it hosts and the role its ecology plays in our lives, including the environment. It is also where ancestors of the Anishinabek Nation walked and practiced each day what it means to live with the land in reciprocity. The connection to the land and water is sacred to the Anishinaabe culture, and held very close to the communities that inhabit the area. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? We take great pride in being “Guardians” because it is our

My name is Eileen Maynard;   I am 10 years old and the eldest of the 5th generation in my family at our cottage in Cognashene, part of the Georgian Bay Archipelago. Georgian Bay is so special to me. It is where I spend my summers and any weekend we can get free of our crazy life in the city. In the summer you can go swimming and tubing or out to islands for picnics. In the fall, it is so pretty with all of the colorful leaves and trees and a great time to go for a walk on Beausoleil Island. Being a Guardian of the Bay is important to me because Georgian Bay is vital to us and the animals around us. Being a Guardian of the Bay is a responsibility that we all have for keeping it healthy for the next 5 generations. Last year, with my grandfather, I applied for and was accepted as a vo

Sticking it to Garbage Along the Shoreline What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? My name’s Chloe Drayton and I’ve been going to Georgian Bay with my family since I was born - I’m only 7! It’s a nice, peaceful place and it’s nice to go swimming, look for turtles, go exploring on the rocks along the shore and spend time with my family. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? Because I want to help all the animals and plants in nature and because it’s nicer to enjoy the cottage when there isn’t garbage lying around. I also want to enjoy Georgian Bay for a long, long time so we have to keep it nice and clean. - What’s your story that helps to show your Guardian of the Bay  values? Every year we walk around the shoreline of ou