[All] GREN meeting January 22

[Tony Maas]

Hi All:

I was hoping to attend the meeting this week, in particular because I have some thoughts on item #7, but I am unable due to another commitment so thought I would share some in writing.

While I couldn’t agree more that we need to do all we can to encourage all levels of government to protect, restore and sustain the health of the Grand River watershed, I am not convinced that a specific Act is what is needed. I realize that in other cases, such as Lake Simcoe and the Oak Ridges Moraine, these instruments have raised profile and advanced planning and management solutions. I just question whether in Grand, we need to go through the lengthy legislative process to do the same; I would suggest we may be better off pushing the buttons that already exists - everything from the Grand River Water Management Plan to implementation of the Source Water Protection plans to enhancing the Rural Water Quality program. I am told that the Water Management Plan, in particular, could be a strong vehicle for more integrated monitoring and management, but the GRCA needs to hear loud and clear from external forces that we want to see it implemented…and are willing to be partners in that. 

I am also concerned that passing more of these geographically defined pieces of legislation will direct too much of the increasingly limited resources of provincial agencies, not to mention political attention and capital, to legislative process and away from implementation of existing law, policy and plans. I think it also sets precedent for all of the other watersheds to seek the same, which could fragment management and further spread out limited provincial government capacity. 

Someone mentioned to me recently that they’d heard of a possible formal review of the Conservation Authorities Act, including mention in the Minister’s mandate letter - I can’t recall where I heard that, and I checked the mandate letter and didn’t see anything. Has anyone else heard of this, beyond mention a couple years back in a report by Don Drummond? Depending on context, that could be an opportunity to push for a modernized, integrated watershed management act and we here in the Grand could advocate to be the “model” for development and implementation.

Just my two cents from a bit of a distance. Sorry I can’t join you tomorrow evening.

Tony

Tony Maas
tony at maas-strategies.com <mailto:tony at maas-strategies.com>
www.tonymaas.ca <http://www.tonymaas.ca/>



> On Jan 17, 2015, at 5:24 PM, John Jackson <jjackson at web.ca> wrote:
> 
> GREN meeting: Thursday January 22, 2015, 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
>>>> St. John’s Kitchen, Kitchener (Victoria at Weber), 2nd floor, enter from side, one block from transit, limited parking in back and you need to enter from Weber St.) 
> 
> Agenda:
> 
> Save the Bees meeting – Susan K
> Follow-up to municipal elections – all
> Update on status of official plan country-side line, greenbelt and work we may need to do in 2015 – Kevin & others
> Changing by-laws to avoid contamination threats from facilities such as drive-throughs, garages, etc. - Daphne
> Proposal to incinerate municipal garbage: do we want to be active on this issue? - John J
> Biohazards – Guest Presenter - Lorraine Grenier
> Grand River Watershed Act - Lulu
> WREN proposal - John
> Other
> 
> Next meeting
> 
>  Looking forward to seeing you.
> 
> John
> 
> -- 
> John Jackson
> 17 Major Street
> Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
> 519-744-7503
> 
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca

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