NDP calls for 44 tonnes by 2030. Where are PC MPPs?
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NDP calls for 44 tonnes by 2030. Where are PC MPPs? |
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Today, the Ontario New Democratic Party’s Environment Critic, Sandy Shaw, M.P.P. tabled a motion at Queen’s Park calling for a plan to reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution to 44 tonnes per year by 2030. According to Sandy Shaw: “As our largest inland lake, Lake Simcoe collects a high amount of storm runoff that has a huge impact on the water’s health. Phosphorus in the runoff creates algae – which throws the whole system off balance. Once this beloved lake is damaged, it’ll be hard to get it back. That’s why we need to act now to protect it.” Specifically, reducing Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution is necessary to prevent toxic blue-green algae blooms and excessive weed growth. It is also necessary to protect Lake Simcoe’s coldwater fishery (e.g., white fish and lake trout). In 2009 the Government of Ontario released its Lake Simcoe Protection Plan (LSPP) which called for Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution to be reduced by 44 tonnes per year. Despite the fact the LSPP was released 15 years ago, the government has still not developed a plan or a budget to achieve its 44 tonne target. As a result, Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution has gone UP by 25% between 2015 and 2020 relative to its 2009 level. We are going in the wrong direction. Reducing phosphorus pollution to 44 tonnes by 2030 is a goal that is also supported by the Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party Bonnie Crombie, six Lake Simcoe municipalities (Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Ramara, Brock, Georgina and Bradford West Gwillimbury) and the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. To read Lake Simcoe Watch’s plan to clean up Lake Simcoe, please click here. What you can do Please contact Lake Simcoe’s five Progressive Conservative MPPs and ask them to stand up for the Lake we love by developing a plan and a budget to reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution to 44 tonnes per year by 2030.
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