Minister's Speech

Statement to the Ontario Legislature

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Protecting Lake Simcoe
Queen's Park
March 27, 2008 

(Check against delivery)

Mr. Speaker, Premier McGuinty has stated his commitment to ensuring stronger protections for Lake Simcoe. 

For the nearly 350,000 Ontarians living in communities close to Lake Simcoe, these protections are absolutely critical.

But, they are also very important for the many people who visit and enjoy the lake every year.

Earlier this afternoon, along with my colleague Aileen Carroll, the Member for Barrie and my Parliamentary Assistant, Kevin Flynn, I had the pleasure of announcing three new measures by our government to protect Lake Simcoe and its watershed.

First — as of April 1, 2008 — new interim limits will be in place for phosphorous discharges from industrial and municipal sewage treatment plants. 

These measures will help protect water quality in Lake Simcoe while we work on developing a long-term protection strategy.

Second, we have formed the Lake Simcoe Science Advisory Committee to ensure that our strategy, including any proposed legislation, is based on the best available science.

We need to better understand the issues facing the health of Lake Simcoe and its watershed and look at what actions we must take to improve and protect its water quality.

I was joined this afternoon by Dr. Jennifer Winter, one of the co-chairs of the Lake Simcoe Science Advisory Committee.  Dr. Winter and her co-chair, Dr. Peter Dillon, will use their considerable scientific expertise and knowledge of Lake Simcoe to look at the present state of the lake and its watershed … the pressures on the system now and the future … and to provide advice on our best approach to manage it.

We are committed to developing a strategy that joins together both environmental protection and planning for growth.

Our goal is to not only protect Lake Simcoe but set a benchmark for sustainability.

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes that a great many people are passionate about this issue and want to be involved in protecting Lake Simcoe.

This is the reason for the third measure I announced today — the release of a discussion paper on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry. 

We are consulting with Ontarians so we can develop a long-term, comprehensive strategy that will work for everyone.

Our government recognizes farmers are already doing a lot of good work to reduce the amount of phosphorus going into the lake. We will consult with the farming community to find ways to reduce it even further.

We’ll also seek public input on funding to help farmers and others to further their stewardship activities.

We also want to get input from cottagers, recreational users, business, first nations communities, environmental groups and municipalities — everyone who cares about protecting and sustaining Lake Simcoe.

We know there are a lot of good ideas out there and we want to hear them.

We will also be creating a Stakeholder Advisory Committee to advise us on best approaches to improve the long-term future of the lake.

Mr. Speaker, with the pressures from population growth, urban and rural development, new invasive species and climate change, we need to take strong actions now to ensure our water stays healthy and protected.

What we do today will build a better, more sustainable environment and a brighter future for ourselves and our children.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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