Recent News of the GBA:

 

The following are some highlights from the various GBA committee initiatives and activities that our South Channel members may find of great interest:

 

Reminder:  Please give generously this taxation year to your GBA Foundation which helps oversee the funding of necessary technical/professional support for many of these projects that GBA volunteers work many hours and travel often great distances to lobby and defend for stewardship concerns held by all its Cottage Associations along the Georgian Bay shores and islands. It’s about the safety and peaceful enjoyment of all members and their future generations who will live, work, relax and play on the Bay.

 

Boating Committee –

The Outside Boating Channel to Killarney:

-         Plans are set for this Boating Channel intended to attract large-wake vessels (e.g. yachts and “muscle” racing boats) away from the small vessel inner Channel routes, and spare cottagers from the large volumes of traffic that in some areas cause damage to docks and shorelines. Financial support to the amount of $75,000 (to Canadian Coast Guard for a 5-year contract for installation and maintenance costs of buoys and Channel markers) is required to be in place by February in order to make sure the new route is placed onto the new Charts being printed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service.  Funding will be solicited from Government and industry (1/3), Boating Associations (1/3) and Cottage Association (1/3). Our support is requested for this endeavor and contributions made to the GBA Foundation can be specifically designated by indicating the Outer Channel on our cheque

Annual OPP Liaison Meeting February 14th

-         If you wish to raise any concerns to be placed on the agenda items please let me know and I can forward them to the Boating Committee

Environment Committee

-         Diligent work continues with the Annex Negotiations for water withdrawals, IJC’s review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Upper Lakes Plan of Study, and other matters

Aquaculture Committee

-         A flurry of meetings and appearances have been undertaken recently with government (OME, and EC,) and the International Joint Commission

-         Some good news/bad news:  The West Bay site proposal for a new aquaculture facility in the North Channel has been withdrawn (good news); ColdWater Fisheries in Fisher Harbour near McGregor Bay has had a large “spill” (over half their netcages ripped apart by a November storm) allowing over 200,000!! farmed rainbow trout to escape into the Bay (good news for fishermen, bad news for wild species of fish that will be competing for food and habitat). This same cage farm had a similar spill last year to the tune of 100,000 escapes.  Our committee is calling for accountability on these allowed “mishaps” that occur on a regular basis from many fish farms – including Depot Harbor’s large spill (numbers not released to us) this past summer due to high winds ripping the netcages.

-         Please see our website for the latest Report of the Environmental Commissioner who is again chastising the government regulators for their lax policies and regulations in regards to controlling this feedlot industry.  Also view the powerful speech given by David Suzuki regarding aquaculture in Georgian Bay (www.georgianbay.ca)

Renewable Energy Committee

-         Chaired by Bill Bialkowski and off to a tremendous start (first meeting took place November 2nd). Plans are in place for exploring all forms of renewable energy with an initial focus on large scale wind generation and all aspects involved in siting plans, MNR’s land use policy, land use designations, effects on the surrounding lands and viewscapes, etc. Look to the GBA website for the excellent powerpoint presentation given by this group.

Other recent endeavours

-         GBA is working to identify various telephone options for improved communication services – especially encouraging is the prospect of enhanced Cell phone services

-         GBA Corporate memberships continue to grow – if you know of a business /individual that may benefit by membership, please pass on information about GBA and refer them to GBA’s website for more details

-         For our friends and membership from the Ohio area – GBA is making plans for its First (hopefully annual) GBA Presentation , in Cleveland, slotted for April 1st 2006 specially for those who have been unable to travel  to past AGM’s  held annually in Toronto

-         Circle Wednesday April 12th on your calendars for this year’s GBA Annual General Meeting in Toronto.  Interesting guest speakers are being lined up now.

Note:  For more on these and other projects that GBA has taken on for the benefit of its members, please see www.georgianbay.ca or contact Claudette, your GBA Rep.