Government Affairs are now being handled by the Executive Director with direction and guidance from the Executive Committee. There will be times where dedicated Ad Hoc Committees are formed to address specific items and opportunities such as the current Ad Hoc Committee for First Nations liaison.
Chair: John McMullen
Members:
Doug Carr
Rob Moos
Peter Koetsier
Bill Steiss
See Our Current Issues & Priorities
GBA Primer With Hydro Rates ever increasing in Ontario and particularly in rural locations where there are long transmission distances, some people are considering going off the grid. To this end we are providing the following information and advice as well as some contact information for solar specialists along the Bay. The reason we have not included information on wind power is the potential ongoing maintenance of these (moving parts) in remote locations. Some of the specialists that we list are also knowledgeable on wind power and can provide their advice in this regard. Off-grid...
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We have a Federal election on October 21st. The GBA encourages all of our Canadian members to engage the candidates in their home ridings on Georgian Bay-related issues and exercise your franchise by voting. GBA has prepared the following questions that we are asking candidates for office, and suggest you do the same. Water Quality The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) has identified many priorities that the Canadian and American federal governments should address to improve and protect water quality. Many concerns have been raised that more needs to be done to prevent harmful chemicals and plastics from entering the Great Lakes. Do you support increased action and funding to address those threats? Despite the fact that the US states do not permit open n
The Great Lakes have an amazing young champion. Autumn Peltier, a 15 year old from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, addressed the United Nations Global Landscapes Forum Saturday as part of the Indigenous march within Friday’s global climate strike. Autumn is the Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner, a position she took over from her great-aunt and water activist Josephine Mandamin. Her goal is to educate people on the importance of clean water. Read more about this impressive advocate and watch her speech to the UN here.
With support from the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, municipalities around Georgian Bay have signed onto the Partners for Climate Protection program (PCP) to work toward the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the local level. Read more about the initiative here.
The province launched a review of 82 municipalities in the Districts of Muskoka, Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Oxford and Simcoe several months ago. The stated purpose was to consider service delivery, public access to services, duplication reduction and cost savings. The review of Muskoka District could result in a proposal to amalgamate the six local governments, including the Township of Georgian Bay, where five GBA member associations are located. A strong argument can be made for an alternative proposal to create a larger coastal municipality based on the strong alignment of interests among communities in the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve area. This would build on the original rationale for creating the Township of the Archipelago. The opportunity and the case for
Pow-wows are fun, inclusive and educational events for all the family – see the schedule of the many Pow-wows around the Bay this summer here...2019 pow wow publication And more details here ..........2019 pow wow listings
We recently updated our First Nations Reading List. There are several fine books available on Canadian history and the First Nations, many of which are written by First Nation people.
Our primary concern is that changes do not compromise the protection of Species at Risk (SARs) by relaxing regulations to favour industry and development, but instead focus on improving the Act and its regulations to assist SAR recovery, and deal with the shortfalls in implementation that have been evident since enaction in 1971. Georgian Bay is home to numerous SARs, so this matter is important to all of us. - GBA submission on 10 year review of the Endangered Species Act - Mar 4 2019Download
We are pleased to report that funding for the Lake Partner Program is safe for the time-being. Read our letter to the Minister and his response.
The Ford Government is reviewing some of the regional governments, including the District of Muskoka, which includes the Township of Georgian Bay. GBA will be discussing this move with our coastal municipalities and developing an appropriate strategy. See: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/01/15/doug-ford-government-announces-review-of-regional-governments.html
This comprehensive article from Dave Seglins at CBC follows a productive exchange of information between the Key River Area Association, GBA, and the CBC since July. It will assist GBA’s efforts to ensure that the MNRF investigation is full, complete and determines the true cause of the fire and those responsible. Read the article here….
GBA joins others in calling for Ford to reconsider. The role of the ECO is vital for holding polluters to account, and preserving the rights of Ontario citizens under our Environmental Bill of Rights. Read here our letter to Premier Ford…
Our Ontario Environmental Commissioner, Dianne Saxe, has just posted her 2018 environmental report which challenges the Ford Government to take urgent action on a number of fronts, but, in particular, municipal sewage overflows. Read a report on it here… And the full report can be downloaded here…
