[All] Alarming news: No GRCA Watershed Forum until 2014!

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks

I'm shocked. The next GRCA Watershed forum won't be until 2014. No more forum til then to discuss the state of the Grand River Watershed. I've been attending this forum for years. It's one of the few that allows industry, ministry reps and the public to gather together for candid discussions on the state of the Grand River Watershed. Last forum focused quite strongly on Tar Sands issues and this latest development is very much disturbing in my view. The GRCA gives their explanation but I think it's a chill from the feds pushing this. 

At a time when the fisheries laws are being tampered with by the federal budget, when mega quarries threaten our headwaters it's very alarming that the forum will be cancelled for two years. 

Below is the GRCAs explaination as taken from their latest newsletter. 

It makes me think perhaps GREN should organize our own Citizens based watershed forum in the fall to discuss the mega quarry, the Line 9 reversal and impact of the proposed fisheries law changes. 

Lulu 
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Next Water Forum in 2014!

The annual Grand River Water Forum will be suspended temporarily.

The first water forum was held in 2001 and this event has taken place annually each September. Early forums attracted as many as 400 people but this event needs to be revitalized to reach a larger audience and increase its impact in the larger watershed community.
This year instead of Water Forum, the GRCA will hold a series of targeted workshops to advance the development of the Water Management Plan.
The GRCA is also participating in the International Plowing Match in September at the same time
as Water Forum is usually held, so staff are already busy with that event.
In 2013, a forum will be held in the fall to launch the Water Management Plan to the watershed community. A plan will be developed for a revitalized forum to be held in the fall of 2014
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