New Source Protection Committee Members Appointed

Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin

News release from the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

Most of us in southern Ontario take safe and plentiful drinking water for granted, but that supply is being protected through the actions of numerous legislative provisions, one of which is a local stakeholder group called the Source Protection Committee, created under the Clean Water Act of 2006.

The Source Protection Committee for this region (South Georgian Bay Lake Simcoe) began meeting in 2007 and continues its important role to this day. Earlier this year, the Committee undertook a significant refresh in its membership. After a thorough search and application review, six new members have been appointed to the Committee. The Committee consists of 21 members, plus the Chair, plus a First Nations representative from Rama First Nation.

These new members will join the existing members to review and update the local Source Protection Plan and Assessment Reports, as well as oversee the implementation of existing plan policies.

The new members are:

· Geoff Allen, Public Sector Representative
· Andy Campbell, Municipal Representative
· David Greenwood, Public Sector Representative
· Jeff Hamelin, Municipal Representative
· Brandon Powers, Economic/Development Representative
· Cate Root, Public Sector Representative

Lynn Dollin, Mayor of Innisfil, who’s chaired the Source Protection Committee since its inception in 2007, says she is “looking forward to continuing the important work of the Source Protection Committee and is confident that our region will be well served with a mix of returning members that have valuable experience and some fresh eyes to bring new perspectives and ideas to the group. It is an honour to chair such an impressive group.”

Stan Wells, a member re-appointed to represent the Nottawasaga Valley Watershed, says he “cannot imagine a life without access to a safe and secure water supply, but sadly that reality already exists in many parts of the world. Source water protection is designed to protect our water supplies, of which I’m pleased to play a small part.”

New Source Protection Committee member Cate Root is excited about the opportunity. “I believe water to be one of our most precious resources and we cannot take it for granted. I am very proud to be able to be involved in this work and I know I will learn a lot along the way.”

For the complete list of Source Protection Committee members please visit ourwatershed.ca.