GBA is calling on the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to apply the correct Environmental Assessment (EA) Category to the aquaculture operations in Georgian Bay and the North Channel to ensure that the assessment process recognizes the substantive potential for environmental damage and the high level of public concern about this industry. Currently Ontario is the only jurisdiction along the Great Lakes coastline that allows net-pen aquaculture in public waters. These operations are classified as Category A, which means they are considered to have a minimal adverse environmental impact and attract no significant public concern, neither of which is correct. The submission can be found here and more information on GBA's position on cage aquaculture can be found he

The Ontario cormorant hunt, set to begin on September 15, 2020, has Dr. Steven Cooke, professor in fish ecology and conservation physiology at Carleton University, retired biologist Buzz Boles, and others confirming that this hunt lacks a scientific basis, will unnecessarily damage those cormorant colonies that are not creating an overpopulation problem, and conflicts with Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters' principles. Read more here. -  

On July 31, the Ontario government announced it's inaugural fall cormorant harvest will run September 15 - December 31 beginning in 2020 to take steps to protect fish stocks and trees from the harmful impacts of double-crested cormorants. Pared down from the initial proposal, the season has been shortened, the daily limit has been reduced to 15 and the new regulations will require hunters to retrieve their carcasses. Since last fall GBA has expressed opposition to the hunt, highlighting public safety concerns and a lack of scientific evidence that cormorants are harming fish stocks. Now experts from Canada and the US have signed an open letter calling on the Ontario government to provide a scientific rationale for the cormorant hunt. These 51 experts include ecologists, fisheries scient

Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels. From a month ago the water level on Lake Superior is up 1 inch, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 6, 6 & 6 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 2, 3, & 15 inches, respectively, and Lake Michigan-Huron & St. Clair are 5 & 1 inches higher, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 11, 34, 32, 26 & 9 inches, respectively, above their long term September average. Lake Michigan-Huron is the same as its previous record high for August. All the other lakes are below their September record high except Lake St Clai

The Department of National Defence (DND) has extended their public engagement period to September 30 to hear comments and concerns from all stakeholders regarding the proposed TC Energy pumped storage project. TC Energy approached DND with a proposal to construct and operate a hydroelectric pumped storage facility on part of DND's 4th Canadian Division Training Centre next to Georgian Bay in Meaford. Details for submitting comments, concerns and questions can be found here. GBA has made detailed submissions to both DND and Meaford town council outlining our concerns regarding the environmental impact of the project. These submissions and additional background information on the TC Energy pumped storage project can be found here. -

The Ontario government is facing two legal challenges over the lack of public consultation prior to passing Bill 197, COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020. This omnibus bill is being challenged by a coalition of environmental groups and now the Chiefs of Ontario for the changes made to environmental assessment (EA) regulations without public consultation. In a virtual meeting on August 20, the Chiefs of Ontario, an organization representing 133 First Nations communities, voted in favour of legal action. Similarly, a coalition of environmental groups, including Ecojustice, Greenpeace Canada and the Wilderness Committee, filed a lawsuit against the Ford government on August 10, alleging the province’s lack of public consultation on environmental changes in its economic recovery bill is

Last fall, GBA submitted comments on the proposed changes to the rules for live bait in Ontario to address our concerns around minimizing the threat of  invasive species and the spread of diseases. After this consultation process, the province released new regulations for the sale and possession of live bait in July and many of GBA’s recommendations have been adopted. What has Changed? For anglers, the new rules limit the list of fish that may be used as bait to 34 fish species. These are native minnows, suckers, and sticklebacks while  several species of fish that resemble invasive species have been removed from the list to avoid confusion and maintain the cleanest source of bait possible. The complete list of permitted baitfish can be found here. To control bait wastage, ang

With near-record high water levels again this year, the International Joint Commission's (IJC) Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management (GLAM) Committee is looking for shoreline property owners to share their experiences. The GLAM Committee is an IJC subcommittee that monitors and assesses data to help the water control boards evaluate their regulation plans. The questionnaire asks participants to report their recent experiences with flooding, erosion or shore protection damages and encourages the uploading photos to illustrate their concerns. This survey will help the GLAM Committee evaluate and improve the models they use to better predict future issues for property owners. For more information and to complete the survey, click 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