Andrew Scheer promises to restore the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund

From Jack Gibbons Rescue Lake Simcoe

Andrew Scheer has promised to restore the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund if he becomes Prime Minister of Canada (see “Conservatives unveil climate plan, Lake Simcoe Watch all eyes”).

This is a step in the right direction. But we need more information about Mr. Scheer’s proposed Clean-Up Fund. Specifically, what will its phosphorus pollution reduction targets be?

According to the Government of Ontario’s Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution must be reduced by 50% to 44 tonnes per year to prevent excessive weed growth and algae blooms and to protect our cold water fishery (e.g., lake trout and whitefish).

What you can do:

1. Please contact your Lake Simcoe MP and ask him: By how many tonnes will Mr. Scheer’s Clean-Up Fund reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution by 2026?
-Barrie-Innisfil: John Brassard, John.Brassard@parl.gc.ca
-Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte: Alex Nuttall, Alex.Nuttall@parl.gc.ca
-Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock: Jamie Schmale, Jamie.Schmale@parl.gc.ca
-Simcoe North: Bruce Stanton, Bruce.Stanton@parl.gc.ca
-York Simcoe: Scot Davidson, Scot.Davidson@parl.gc.ca

2. Please sign our SaveSimcoe.org petition asking our municipal, provincial and federal leaders to work together to reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution by 50% by 2026.

3. Please order a Save Simcoe lawn sign for your front yard.

Lake Simcoe Watch is a joint initiative of AWARE Simcoe, the Innisfil District Association, the Lake Simcoe Association, the North Gwillimbury Forest Alliance, the South Lake Simcoe Naturalists, the STORM Coalition and the West Oro Ratepayers’ Association.