Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte – Lake Simcoe Watch

Doug Shipley (Conservative)

Question #1: Should the Government of Canada work with the Government of Ontario, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and/or municipalities in the Lake Simcoe watershed to reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus loadings to 44 tonnes per year by 2026?

Yes

The Conservative party is committed to bringing back the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund, with a $30-million investment over 4 years.

Between 2007 and 2017, the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund worked with the various levels of government and the Conservation Authority to achieve measurable results. A restored fund will be no different.

In Budget 2017 the Trudeau Liberals cancelled the fund by not recommitting money to it, they were lobbied hard by every MP around Lake Simcoe to keep the fund going.

Instead the Trudeau Liberals decided to give $30 million to fund the same project on Lake Erie, a lake many times the size of Lake Simcoe. This was very clearly a political decision, that was made in the face of the successful results achieved by the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund of 2007 – 2017.

Question #2: Should the Government of Canada work with the Government of Ontario, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and/or municipalities in the Lake Simcoe watershed to ensure that by 2026, at least 40% of Lake Simcoe’s watershed consists of high-quality connected forests, wetlands and meadows?

Yes

The 2007 – 2017 LSCUF was immensely successful in this regard, although more work needs to be done. Over 72,000 trees and shrubs were planted along the lake shore, connecting streams and rivers. This kind of work will continue when a new Conservative government is elected.

Question #3: The Conservative Party has promised to establish a Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund. Other parties have not said specifically how they will clean up the Lake. If you are a Conservative Party candidate, please state by how many tonnes per year the proposed Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund will reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus loadings by 2026. If you are a candidate with another party, what is your party’s plan for cleaning up the Lake?

The 2007 – 2017 fund prevented an estimated 27,800 kilograms (roughly 27.8 tonnes) of phosphorus from reaching Lake Simcoe during that time. The reductions started out slowly but ramped up every single year.

If the fund had not been cancelled by the Liberals in 2017, we would be closer to reaching the goal of 44 tonnes per year.

A new Conservative government will restore the Clean-Up Fund and support community-based organizations and projects that have demonstrated their ability to reduce phosphorus levels in the lake.

Marty Lancaster (Green)

Yes

It is important to make sure there is enough staff and talent in the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority to be able to do the measuring and deliver the efforts to reduce the phosporus loading. I have been a long time supporter of the rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition that has worked with lots of groups and pushed for the Lake Simcoe Protection Act. As the 10 year review is underway, it is an important time to be a partner with the province to move the efforts forward. Phosphorus loading needs to be considered in all the new developments that happen in the watershed. We can't just blame farmer's fertilizers for the problem, or ask them to make all the reductions to solve it.

Yes

During my time on Oro-Medonte council I saw the report cards from NVCA and LSRCA for the amount of green space in the watershed. I was very concerned when I saw the grade slip from an A- to a B+. The amount of green space needs to be increased, not just barely maintained with weak protections. I propose trying to create green space corridors to connect forests and wetlands throughout the watershed. Working with The farmers, the city, the townships, the province and the nation, we need to create a plan to increase the fully protected forests, wetlands and meadows that all greatly contribute to the health of the lake.

Fight climate change. If the temperature of the lake goes up 2 degrees the cold water ecosystem will be greatly disturbed.

Having a fund with no targets, and no targets on climate change will not be able to "clean up" a lake.
Monitoring all aspects of the lake is crucial. Data matters. We need to look at the data from the last 10 years, allow the scientists to make recommendations about target levels of phosphorus, salt, and forest cover then the various levels of government must work together to implement those recommendations.

Brian Kalliecharan (Liberal)

Yes

No resource is more important to people than fresh, clean water – so many lives and livelihoods depend on it. That’s why our government has worked with provinces and territories to protect the health of our lakes, like Simcoe and watersheds. There are a number of programs and funding streams focused on water and fertilizer management issues. Last year, the Liberal government launched the Canadian Agricultural Partnership – including programs to help producers address soil and water conservation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. The City and producers have been great partners in reducing phosphorus, but continued development keeps putting a strain on the system. The watershed needs central planning and cross coordination – not band-aid solutions, like grants - in order to bring local, provincial and federal mechanisms together.

We have exceptional environmental organizations that are doing the hard work of protecting this important watershed. They are out protecting lands, educating users and landowners, pushing municipalities and counties on development, on a tiny budget. We need to recognize their work and support them in it.

A re-elected Liberal government will invest in restoration. We’re going to work with other governments, local authorities, Indigenous communities, scientists and producers through a new Canada Water Agency to manage and protect our fresh water.

Yes

The position of the Ford government is worrisome. They continue to hint at selling off part of the greenbelt to developers and selling off protected or somewhat protected land.

Canada is home to the longest coastline in the world. The Conservatives spent a decade ripping up protections for nearly all Canadian waters. When we came into office in 2015, only about one per cent of Canada’s marine and coastal areas were still protected. To safeguard wildlife like whales, polar bears, seabirds, and endangered turtles, we boosted protected coastal and ocean areas to nearly 14%. A re-elected Liberal government will increase this to 25% of Canada’s lands and 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025.

In Budget 2018, we announced $1.3 billion over five years to support Canada's biodiversity, including $500 million to create a new Nature Fund to protect species at risk, expand wildlife areas and sanctuaries, and manage protected areas. The $10 million Living Laboratories Initiative will bring farmers, scientists and other partners together to develop, test and monitor beneficial management practices in a real life context. And, millions of dollars have been allocated to protect the Great Lakes from toxic and nuisance algae as well as harmful chemicals.

The protection and restoration of forestation will help the water and health of our communities on many levels. Trees can help pull carbon pollution out of the air, storing carbon in their roots, trunks, and branches. Studies at the global level show that natural climate solutions, like planting trees, restoring wetlands, protecting grasslands, and creating incentives for farmers to plant cover crops, can also help get us closer to reaching our Paris Agreement targets. A re-elected Liberal government will plant 2 billion trees over 10 years – helping to create 3,500 seasonal jobs and assisting cities expanding and diversifying their urban forests.

Investments in natural climate solutions can create jobs and improve the sustainability of forest and agriculture sectors, while also safeguarding water sources, providing habitat conservation, and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Unfortunately, other levels of government are not taking this issue as seriously as they should. I am proud to see continued action at the federal level. Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership – a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments – Canada and Ontario are supporting on-farm environmental stewardship actions to enhance water quality and soil health across Ontario including by reducing phosphorus runoff from farms, a significant issue in the Lake Simcoe basin.

As a leader from my community I will continue to push the provincial government to enhance the protections under the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan review.

Dan Janssen (NDP)

Yes

All levels of government should be working together to address phosphorus levels in Lake Simcoe. They should also be consulting with, and supporting local first Nation partners, and advocacy groups that are working to raise awareness and to address this issue.

Yes

It is important to have a healthy environment surrounding Lake Simcoe. Ensuring that we protect existing forests, wetlands and meadows has to be a priority for our region at all levels of government.

We are very fortunate to have beautiful Lake Simcoe right at our door step in Barrie, Springwater, Oro-Medonte. All levels of government have to work together to ensure this important resource is protected for future generations. The NDP’s MP Linda Duncan, has been working in the House of Commons to pass an Environment Bill of Rights that would legally safeguard the right of all Canadians to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment. The NDP will pass this Bill requiring the Government of Canada to protect those rights and it will give Canadians the right to access environmental information, to participate in the decision making process when it impacts their environment and hold the government accountable through calling for investigations and judicial reviews. At the heart of our Climate Action plan is our commitment to reconciliation. The NDP will grow the Indigenous Guardians Program to make sure that we respect indigenous rights and embrace traditional knowledge to increase biodiversity. We will listen to indigenous led science and support the creation of indigenous- managed protected areas. The NDP’s Power to Change climate action plan is all about building a future where all Canadians and their communities can thrive - creating new opportunities for workers and communities with real action to protect the environment. It will take real investment, Our plan commits to investing $400 million to support conservation efforts, waste reduction, and protection of land and water. As your NDP representative in the House of Commons, I will make it a priority to reduce the levels of phosphorus in Lake Simcoe and I will work with all levels of government, local advocacy groups, and First Nations leaders to protect this important resource for future generations. https://www.ndp.ca/climate-and-jobs

I look forward to the opportunity of representing our community. Thank you to all those involved in Lake Simcoe Watch, and to the many others that are working to protect Lake Simcoe for my daughters generation and for generations to come. Keep up the great work!

David Patterson (PPC)

Yes

People's Party of Canada

The People's Party policy on environment will focus on clean water. Our policy states: "Prioritize implementing practical solutions to make Canada’s air, water and soil cleaner, including bringing clean drinking water to remote First Nations communities." https://www.peoplespartyofcanada.ca/global_warming_and_environment_rejecting_alarmism_and_focusing_on_concrete_improvements
Our plan for Lake Simcoe will focus on improving water quality and natural habitat. We will work with provincial and municipal governments and conservation authorities to protect the waters in and around Lake Simcoe.