Minister's Speech

Remarks for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Second Reading:
Bill 99: Lake Simcoe Protection Act
September 22, 2008 TBC

(Check against delivery)

I rise today to begin second reading debate on Bill 99, our government’s proposed Lake Simcoe Protection Act.

I was proud to introduce this act last session.  It delivers on a commitment by Premier McGuinty and takes an important step forward on behalf of the environment.

If passed, it would allow us to set the framework for a long-term protection plan for Lake Simcoe and its watershed.

Mr. Speaker, at the time of the first European contact in the 17th century, this lake was called “Beautiful Water” by the Huron people living in the area.

It is still a beautiful water, there’s no doubt about that – but sadly it has not always been treated with the respect that it deserves.

As you know, Lake Simcoe is the largest body of water in southern Ontario, outside of the Great Lakes.

It’s a complex ecosystem — home to many different fish species, aquatic plants and animals.

Its watershed holds ecologically important wetlands, woodlands and wildlife, as well as prime agricultural areas and specialty crop areas such as the Holland Marsh.

It provides drinking water for eight municipalities, and supports a thriving tourism industry and diverse recreational activities.

Lake Simcoe is a vital resource, important to the strength of our people and our province.

Yet it is not in good health. 

The lake is under stress and under increasing pressure from urban and rural development, population growth, pollutants, invasive species as well as climate change.

These pressures have affected the shoreline, the water quality in the lake, and the general ecological health of the surrounding area.

Our government is committed to protecting Lake Simcoe and restoring the natural balance of its ecosystem.

And we are joined in this goal by local municipalities, residents, conservation authorities, farmers, environmental groups, developers, First Nations communities and the tourism industry ─ all of which have been involved in the comprehensive process leading up to the legislation we are considering today.  

Mr. Speaker, our government is a fierce defender of the environment, and of the right of all Ontarians to enjoy clean and healthy air, land and water.

If passed, Bill 99 would build upon other laws and measures we’ve put into place to protect Ontario’s environment.

This Bill would complement the work being done under our Clean Water Act.

It would protect and restore the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed which would, in turn, safeguard the lake as a source of safe drinking water for the communities depending upon it.

It would authorize us to create the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan.

This plan would complement existing provincial plans working to balance a sustainable environment with a growing population and economy — plans such as the Growth Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and the Greenbelt Plan.

It would also build on steps already taken on behalf of Lake Simcoe.

Together with our partners, we’ve upgraded sewage plants and stormwater facilities, improved aquatic habitat, improved agricultural practices and more.

Earlier this year, we invested another $850,000 to help reduce the amount of phosphorous entering the lake.

This is a key concern.

When a lake is healthy, coldwater fish such as lake trout and lake whitefish are abundant and active.

This is not the case with Lake Simcoe.  Over the years, it has seen a dramatic decline in its coldwater fish community.  

The fish population cannot reproduce and sustain itself naturally.  Their continued existence in the lake is almost entirely due to a stocking program.

These problems stem from an excessive amount of nutrients, specifically phosphorus, entering Lake Simcoe as a result of human activities within the watershed. 

Phosphorus loading causes excessive plant growth and when these plants decay they use up oxygen young fish need to survive.

With hard work and commitment by many — phosphorus levels have been reduced from more than 100 tonnes per year down to 67 tonnes, and water quality has seen some level of improvement.

But there’s still much work to be done.

While our government has placed interim limits on phosphorus discharges from sewage plants.

While we’re promoting actions people can take in their homes and workplaces to reduce their phosphorus footprint.

We also recognize that a long-term, comprehensive watershed approach to phosphorus management is imperative to the future health of Lake Simcoe and its ecosystem.

If passed, Bill 99 would allow us to develop this approach. The proposed plan would address excessive phosphorus and other pollutants as a principal goal.

It would also go much further.

The plan would directly affect key decisions involving activities that may cause harm to the ecological health of the watershed.

It would allow us to adapt our efforts to respond to new challenges like climate change and invasive species. 

And it would ensure the promotion of environmentally sustainable land use and development practices.

I also want to emphasize that just as careful monitoring and research have been instrumental in identifying the issues with Lake Simcoe and the solutions to date, the proposed plan would be based upon the best available science and information.

It would set priorities and targets for addressing the key threats to the lake. A mix of regulatory and non-regulatory measures would achieve the targets. And regular monitoring would take place.  

We are assisted in these goals by the Lake Simcoe Science Advisory Committee appointed by our government earlier this year.

This team of respected scientists and researchers has already created a list of the primary threats it considers most responsible for impairing the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed.  

The Science Advisory Committee has provided us with the bedrock of good science … their best advice on key indicators of environmental health … achievable targets we can work towards … and possible actions to address threats to the health of the Lake Simcoe ecosystem.

We thank them for their ongoing advice and contribution.

Our government will be investing $20 million over four years for stewardship, science and monitoring actions, and for implementing the long-term plan to protect Lake Simcoe. 

A large part of our $20 million funding commitment will help farmers with the costs of putting in place measures to reduce agricultural impacts on the lake.

Local farmers have already made significant progress in implementing improved agricultural practices and technologies.

We will continue to work with the farming community to be sure the funds are used in the most beneficial way.

In fact, the consultation process has been intrinsic throughout the process of developing this legislation.

Earlier in the year, our government released a discussion paper that invited public input on the full range of measures proposed.

This paper was posted on the Environmental Registry – and we received many thoughtful comments.

We also used the discussion paper as the basis for workshops with community groups and associations and for information forums with members of the public.

We wanted to be sure that anyone interested in the future of Lake Simcoe had an opportunity to bring forward ideas, provide suggestions, and become involved in developing the strategy.

I personally attended sessions in Barrie and Newmarket, and was pleased at the large turn-out and the level of informed participation.

The desire to protect the lake was noticeably strong ─

From the resident who said, “This lake is a gem … and we need to stand up and ask how we can preserve this gem for the entire province into the future,” ¹

To the fifth generation cottager who stated, “If we want our lake to survive, we simply need to put Lake Simcoe first,” ²

The contribution of those who live, work and play in the Lake Simcoe area has been tremendous.

To help reach out even more into the community, our government appointed a 22-member Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

This group represents the wide range of interests around Lake Simcoe and provides valuable advice on the best long-term approach to protect the health of the lake.

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee has worked hard to help us ensure the policies being developed are reflecting the broadest possible range of perspectives — social, environmental and economic — while remaining practical and realistic.

We have also engaged First Nations communities, particularly those with cultural, economic and heritage links to Lake Simcoe ─ to learn from their knowledge of the lake and to seek their ideas on how to protect it for future generations.  

I want to particularly thank the Chippewas of Georgina Island for their valuable advice and wise counsel.

Starting this past summer, and in cooperation with the science and stakeholder advisory committees and First Nations communities, my ministry has been preparing a draft of the proposed Lake Simcoe Protection Plan.

We’re bringing together many different groups and perspectives to find solutions.

Our proposed legislation provides for a plan to improve the state of the lake including reducing phosphorous loadings.

What we will be proposing is a balanced plan … one that allows us to see and understand what ails the lake and what we need to do collaboratively to bring it back to a state of health.

We will then, later this fall, be taking the next step by releasing our proposed plan for public comment.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, a clean, healthy environment dovetails with a strong economy – and our proposal to protect Lake Simcoe would help secure jobs and prosperity.

Tourism and recreation are among the most important industries in the area – and they are dependent upon a healthy lake.

More than $200 million is generated annually through recreational activities such as fishing, boating and camping ─ with $112 million from fishing alone.

Tourism brings in millions more and supports a substantial number of local businesses and jobs.

Protecting Lake Simcoe would help ensure it remains one of Ontario’s most popular tourism and recreation destinations.

Farming activities in the watershed are just as crucial to the local economy – generating almost $300 million annually.

If passed, this Bill would support measures such as stewardship programs, to ensure sustainable agricultural operations for the future.

In fact, we are looking to the future in many ways with this Bill.

As you know, the population of the Greater Golden Horseshoe is expected to grow by about 3.7 million more people over the next 25 years.

The Growth Plan identifies the City of Barrie and the Town of Newmarket as Urban Growth Centres.

This means thousands more people will be joining the 350,000 permanent residents already settled in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Protecting the ecological health of the lake is at the heart of our proposed legislation.

And it is the centre of the proposed Lake Simcoe plan.

Mr. Speaker — l want to be clear on this point.

This is not about a trade-off between economic development and environment.

It is about how to protect the environment while growth occurs.

We are putting the health of the ecosystem health FIRST, because a clean lake is the bedrock of the economy.

Without a healthy lake, tourism, cottaging and fishing will all decline, along with their economic spin offs.

By taking control now, by setting out a strategy, by ensuring everyone who benefits from Lake Simcoe does their part to make it better and keep it that way
we can help make sure the lake and its watershed remains healthy as the population and economy continues to grow and prosper in years to come.

And we can take the lessons learned as we develop and implement the proposed plan to protect other watersheds across Ontario — establishing a gold standard of sustainability here that we can use in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, the protection and restoration of Lake Simcoe is a long-term undertaking.  But it must be done.

It is our responsibility to ensure that Ontarians can continue to enjoy and benefit from this “beautiful water” for generations into the future.

I urge all members to support this legislation.

Thank you.

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