August 9, 2002
To: GBA Association Presidents (please forward to your membership)
GBA Directors
From: Patrick Northey, President, GBA (gba@georgianbay.ca)
Re: Second e-mail Briefing from GBA President, Patrick Northey
As promised in our initial e-mail briefing in May, this mid-summer summary is intended to keep you and your members who are connected to each association’s e-mail network, informed on progress on issues being tackled by your Georgian Bay Association.
Many thanks for your very supportive comments on these new communication initiatives, designed to supplement our well regarded print newsletter GBA UPDATE – published each March, June and November. http://www.georgianbay.ca/GBAupdate
Some of these items may have been touched on in reports at your summer association meetings from our many local and neighbouring GBA directors who were invited to speak. However, we all know that all of our members don’t always attend these meetings, so this will be helpful.
As always, it’s an impressive menu of items – demonstrating the breadth of issues currently undertaken by your GBA volunteer directors and our Executive Director, John Birnbaum. Be sure to check our GBA website for more detail on most items. Our new webmaster, Judy Marshall, is constantly updating the site with new items. Our thanks to our former webmasters Carl and Jennifer Spiess who set up the website over 4 years ago with results that attracted compliments from across the continent!
1. New Vessel Noise Regulation – Quiet Boats As Early As October
Several years ago, GBA Foundation initiated research on finding a new strategy to force large “cigarette speed boats” to run more quietly near shoreline properties. GBA then worked with Muskoka Lakes Association, Lake of Bays Association, MP Andy Mitchell, several municipalities, and the OPP to promote the establishment of a Canadian Coast Guard Working Group on Vessel Noise as part of Canadian Marine Advisory Council – GBA sits on that Council. After many months of debate and consultation, a new reworded small vessel regulation was developed. It has now been published in Canada Gazette to gather any new and final comments. See http://canada.gc.ca/gazette/part1/pdf/g1-13629.pdf
Barring any last minute items raised by the Canadian Marine Manufacturers Association or others, we expect the new regulation will be enacted with the publication of Part II of the Canada Gazette in probably September 2002. Boaters will then have 30 days (late October) to equip their vessels with mufflers to be operated within 5 miles of shore.
This would not have been accomplished without GBA and GBA Foundation leadership.
2. Floating Cottages Will No Longer Be Approved As Vessels
The new Canada Shipping Act passed in April with a new definition of “vessel” which excluded “floating objects”. Again, GBA, local municipalities like Township of The Archipelago, and even boater groups supported this initiative which prevented cottages on floats from anchoring in offshore bays without regulation, taxes, or zoning from municipalities. The Hon. Andy Mitchell now confirms that, as of April, no new licenses have been issued – even before regulations are defined. This effectively closes the door on this widespread concern.
3. Canadian Minister and IJC Co-Chair Acknowledge GBA Water Level Concerns
GBA’s Environment Committee Chair, Mary Muter, has spoken directly to the Hon. Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs and to Right Hon. Herb Gray, Canadian Co-Chair of the International Joint Commission (IJC) regarding GBA water level and other concerns with US Corps of Engineers proposed feasibility study to dredge and expand the St. Lawrence Seaway. Both are very responsive and plan to meet with us on the Bay to review current water level impacts and to discuss possible approaches. This reflects the high regard in which GBA is held for its leadership on this international issue. We were very pleased to receive support from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada for our proposals to (a) delay action on the US Corps proposal until IJC Water Level Studies are complete, (b) encourage Canada and US to refer the proposal to establish a Lake Huron Outflow Monitoring Board to IJC, and (c) have IJC initiate a review of shoreline structures on the shores of Lake Huron and dredging of St. Clair River at Sarnia/Port Huron to twice the agreed upon depths. Importantly, WWF Canada has also brought support from WWF U.S. to this issue. See http://www.georgianbay.ca/waterlevels
4. Proposed New Fisheries Regulations for Georgian Bay Defended by GBA
Attempts by MNR Minister’s Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee to reject the recommended new sport fishing regulations proposed by MNR’s Georgian Bay/North Channel Fisheries Stewardship Council (GBA associations have 3 representatives) have been thwarted for now by a strong response from GBA and other Bay stakeholders (municipalities, Severn Sound Environment Association, and GBA member associations). This interference in a regulatory process was a surprise, but it appears for now that new MNR Minister Jerry Ouellette is taking the time needed to carefully consider this proposed initiative to allow the recovery of our fishery through reduced catch and possession limits. See http://www.georgianbay.ca/fishing
5. Federal Aquaculture Commissioner Promotes Aquaculture Expansion at July Parry Sound Workshop – GBA Reflects Local Concerns
GBA Foundation Consultant, Dr. Karl Schiefer, and GBA Director, Claudette Pintwala of our Aquaculture Sub-committee represented both organizations at a federal government workshop organized to promote expanded aquaculture. While entitled ”Toward an Appropriate Federal Role in Aquaculture”, the clear focus of this federal process was aquaculture business planning by those with a vested interest (operators, university researchers, suppliers, consultants) with our representatives as the only “other stakeholders” invited. We continue to be frustrated that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is currently being asked to promote aquaculture aggressively while also being expected to protect the same habitat for native fish. The Federal Auditor General has made the same point about this conflict of interest! Our Aquaculture Sub-committee will meet soon with other interested experts like the Suzuki Foundation, to explore response strategies. GBA has a four-year background on this issue, has raised its profile with federal and provincial ministries, and is now well positioned to encourage a review of current government policies.
6. Muskoka Tax Plan for District Could Lead to Provincial Changes Benefitting Everyone
GBA Executive Director, John Birnbaum, participated in over a dozen meetings of this District of Muskoka Task Force to explore for existing and new options for municipalities to provide relief from shifting more tax burdens to waterfront properties after each reassessment. See GBA UPDATE article – Summer 2002. http://www.georgianbay.ca/GBAupdate
Recommendations like Ontarians paying education tax on only the highest assessed of 2 or more Ontario properties would save all cottagers over one-third of our cottage tax bill – with the difference picked up by an increased provincial share of the education bill.
This report and initiative becomes very important as a new provincial-wide reassessment using June 2001 values is coming in November 2002 – with increases of up to 45% over 1999 predicted for Georgian Bay shoreline properties.
The entire report is available with a link to the Muskoka District website at http://www.muskoka.on.ca/ District Council will probably vote on this report in September.
7. Air Quality Concerns Remain High for Georgian Bay Shoreline
For the 75 days from mid-May to the end of July, MOE recorded 41 days in which Parry Sound ozone air quality readings exceeded Toronto due primarily to transboundary air pollution. GBA was responsible for the establishment of this Parry Sound air monitor and will continue to monitor this issue. GBA Foundation’s Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Program will identify impacts on Georgian Bay trees.
We must all encourage our governments on both sides of the border to reduce emissions. It affects us all – everywhere.
I’d welcome your comments at gba@georgianbay.ca.