[All] Aggregate Act: prohibit pits in primary recharge, farms & wetlands.

Tue May 28 03:35:07 EDT 2013

FYI

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
To: "dcansfield.mpp at liberal.ola.org" <dcansfield.mpp at liberal.ola.org>; "rbartolucci.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org" <rbartolucci.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org>; "scampbell-qp at ndp.on.ca" <scampbell-qp at ndp.on.ca>; "mcolle.mpp at liberal.ola.org" <mcolle.mpp at liberal.ola.org>; "rmarchese-qp at ndp.on.ca" <rmarchese-qp at ndp.on.ca>; "laurie.scott at pc.ola.org" <laurie.scott at pc.ola.org>; "todd.smith at pc.ola.org" <todd.smith at pc.ola.org>; "jeff.yurek at pc.ola.org" <jeff.yurek at pc.ola.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 3:34:07 AM
Subject: Aggregate Act: prohibit pits in primary recharge, farms & wetlands. 

To the members of the Standing Committee on General
 Government:

I understand you will begin writing the Committee's report on the review of the Ontario Aggregate Resources Act beginning this Monday,
 May 27th. This important process was launched in the fall of 2011, followed by public hearings one year ago. I participated with written feedback.

Currently on the MNR's website it states the following: 

Ontario is losing its important wetlands. Prior to European settlement, 
there were about two million hectares of wetlands in southern Ontario. 
Over 70% of these wetlands have been destroyed, and losses continue. In 
parts of southwestern Ontario, over 90% of the original wetlands are 
gone. These are among the highest recorded losses of wetlands anywhere 
on Earth.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_068977.html

It is evident the Province is failing to reasonably protect wetlands and endangered species in Ontario. There is no plausible deniability when the MNR admits that only 10% of natural wetlands remain in Southwest Ontario. All too often municipalities and ministries will use discretionary powers to whittle away at the remaining features, always promising habitat restoration where possible but when proponents are responsible for their own compliance it is not without bias. Too often we lack reasonable baseline data due to the fact there is no mandatory test times or methods outlined by the province. Flawed studies can undermine risks. There is a lack of oversight at the municipal level to assure policy compliance. Proponents are often responsible to monitor themselves. Even the Ontario Municipal Board has no enforcement agency to assure compliance to their rulings. Too often at the Provincial level, recovery strategies and species assessments are not yet
 completed. Budget cuts, lack of enforcement and staff increases challenges in assuring compliance and as a result, Ontario is failing to meet provincial, national and international obligations towards the protection and preservation of biodiversity.

According to Ducks Unlimited, natural wetlands process 80 to 90% of phosphates and nitrates respectively. One cannot replicate the effectiveness of the natural filtration of wetlands using salt laced storm water management ponds because many of the beneficial microbes are not salt tolerant. Clearly the decline of water quality and increased algae in Lake Erie is linked in part, to the
 destruction of wetland habitats. It is reasonable to state the time has come for us to mitigate the risks or face the total collapse of Lake Erie. 

For too long, primary recharge and wetlands have been exploited for gravel pits and development simply because it's local, easy to find and the lands are not reasonably valued for the function they serve in providing and filtering municipal water supplies. This complacency must end. The time has come for our Province to make source water protection a top priority. With climate change, water shortages are a matter of global urgency and we need to take measures as soon as possible to assure food and water security not only for Ontario, but for our nation and the international community as well. 

Please review the attached power point with further information to provide you with visuals to illustrate the vast destruction of source water areas
 taking place currently in the Grand River Watershed. 

I urge you to include protection of farmland, primary recharge and surface water features in your report for the ARA review.

Yours in good faith,

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo ON
N2V 2L2
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