5 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 In this publication, the president’s report, Coastal Protections Committee (CPC) update, and my report on the H2O 2021 webinars have dealt with most of our advocacy priorities since the fall issue of UPDATE. This gives me a chance to use my Advocacy Report to cover a few other matters. First of all, we are in the final phase of our joint attempt with Dave Seglins of the CBC and Jean Burke from the Key River Area Association to get the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) to release the fire investigation report on the 2018 fire at Henvey Inlet. The adjudicator on our Freedom of Information request ruled that the report’s attachments should be released and made it clear that they did not agree with NDMNRF’s rationale for not releasing the report itself. This initiated a final round of letters from all parties and the matter now lies with the adjudicator for a final decision. For more information and updates please visit: georgianbay.ca/parry-sound-33. Next, in support of Bill 279, which will require filters to be installed on new clothes washing machines, GBA has recently sent a letter to all Ontario MPPs and separately asked you to write your MPP to ask them to support the Bill at its next reading. You can find out why this is so important here: georgianbay.ca/microplastics-in-georgian-bay and send an email to your MPP using our easy and quick online tool here: https://bit.ly/33q2QJ2 Since I updated you on our aquaculture action last May, we have continued to work on: ≥ The new 20-year licences that will commence in April 2023 (at the earliest), due to a more robust environmental assessment (EA) process, including a welcome bump up to a Category B environmental assessment ≥ Pushing for the continuing operation at Lake Wolsey to be closed down before there are more blue green algae outbreaks – we are now working cooperatively with a broad group of stakeholders on this ≥ Other advocacy to address our continued concerns about this industry and why changes are needed to make it more sustainable, full details of which can be found here: https://bit.ly/34ju7gw It is important to note that the expected lower water levels in the short term, as well as continued long-term warming of our waters, will exacerbate environmental impacts from these fish farms in our waters. In December, we held a productive and inspiring gettogether with a small group of our Honourary Life Members to celebrate the launch of our Coastal Protection Fund and get their input on our Coastal Protection Projects (CPP). For more info on our Honourary Life Members, please see: georgianbay. ca/honourary-life-members/ While advocating for our US and international friends to get to their cottages over the last two years, we realized we were lacking an important tool to help us with advocacy work. Therefore, you will shortly receive a request to help us out by completing a simple economic impact survey. Please participate in this when you get it, as it will help us out with ongoing advocacy on your behalf. Last but not least, with the implementation of the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) regulations, we should all thank past GBA president John Carson for not only completely overhauling GBA bylaws and governance procedures, but also setting up a workshop for both your GBA directors and your associations to get the information they need to comply with ONCA. It is a Herculean task, with more to come! Finally, I would like to thank all of you for the many helpful ideas and all the work you do to protect our beloved Bay. ED ADVOCACY REPORT By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director Smoke from the Henvey Inlet fire in 2018 obscures islands in Georgian Bay. The fire covered over 110 square kilometres and destroyed more than a dozen cabins and cottages. Photo: Doug Clark
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDA3MzU4