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Delivering for Lake Simcoe's Environment
Innisfil Enterprise
March 28, 2007
By Peter Van Loan, MP, York-Simcoe
Last week, Canada's New Government
introduced a budget that delivered $12
million in funding to restore and protect
Lake Simcoe's environment, over the next two
years. This is the first time the Federal
Government has taken a step like this for
Lake Simcoe.
Since I first sought to become your Member
of Parliament, working to protect the Lake's
environment has been my principal local
priority.
Last year, our first in government, I was
pleased when we delivered on meaningful
enforceable rules to protect the Lake's
ecosystem from the threat of invasive
species. This was based on a private
member's bill I introduced in Opposition.
In government, I continued to seek
opportunities for funding environmental
restoration of the Lake. Initially, with the
support of many local volunteer
organizations, I sought to seek Area of
Concern designation for the Lake from the
International Joint Commission. This would
allow access to funds available for Great
Lakes clean-up. However, after pursuing this
approach for some time, it became apparent
that two international treaties would
require amendment to get this done.
So I sought another route - direct budgetary
funding. I developed a proposal on the
matter for submission to the Prime Minister,
Environment Minister and Finance Minister.
In addition, I enlisted the support of my
fellow Conservative MP's in the Lake Simcoe
Watershed. I then continued to make the case
for Lake Simcoe, and other areas needing
help (like Lake Winnipeg). This culminated
in the budget announcement of a national
water strategy with the funds for Lake
Simcoe.
I am proud that our Conservative Government
has delivered results for our local
environment - where predecessor governments
failed to act.
Personally, there is tremendous satisfaction
at working so long and hard to achieve an
important objective, and then actually
getting it done!
Lake Simcoe matters to the families of York-Simcoe.
It's the source of drinking water, a
playground, and the defining feature of our
landscape. The lake shapes our lives. We all
want to see its environment protected. Now,
Canada's Conservative Government has taken
action, and we all stand to benefit.
I do want to express appreciation to the
many citizen activist groups, from the
Ladies of the Lake to the Rescue Lake Simcoe
Coalition and others, who supported my
efforts. I also want to thank the Lake
Simcoe Conservation Authority for their
support, especially in the technical area of
identifying the opportunities for
environmental remediation that will help the
lake.
Much work remains to be done. A process for
selecting remediation projects for funding
must be developed.
In addition, now would be a great time for
the provincial government to step up and
deliver similar funding for the lake.
I'm proud of our government's commitment to
Lake Simcoe. By working together, we have
achieved a great breakthrough for Lake
Simcoe's environment. That's a change for
the better.
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