[All] Phragmites australis and call for Ontario ban

[jeff stager]

Hi
The Waterloo Federation of Agriculture welcomes GREN's involvement with 
this invasive plant. By working together we can manage this plant. It's 
hard to believe it's still being sold as an ornamental as it starts to 
compromise farmland. The WFA appreciates this call to action.
OFA response to Phragmites can be found here. 
http://ofa.on.ca/media/news/ofa-wants-to-rid-ontario-of-canada%27s-most-invasive-plant 
.  The working group is here. http://www.opwg.ca/index.php/about-us
Another link to a news story. 
http://www.farms.com/ag-industry-news/farmers-worried-about-phragmites-impact-on-ontario-agriculture-027.aspx
And another
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/action-needed-to-control-invasive-phragmites-ecologist-urges-1.2786707
For gardeners,,, this online resource, 
http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/files/GMI2012web.pdf describes 
undesirables and good alternatives ( phragmites on page 43-44)
jeff stager

On 6/30/2015 11:23 AM, Louisette Lanteigne wrote:
> Hi folks
>
> Phragmites australis is the invasive plant taking over wetlands in 
> Waterloo Region and other areas in Ontario right now. It is currently 
> being sold in stores as an ornamental plant but I'm calling for a 
> provincial ban. The MOE has responded below and confirmed the fact 
> that it is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry taking the 
> lead on this particular issue so if we want to support new legislation 
> to ban sales, that is the ministry we should appeal to.
>
> I'd like GREN to create a letter asking the Region of Waterloo to pass 
> a motion to send a letter to the MNRF calling for a ban on the sale of 
> this plant to protect our area wetlands and to show public support for 
> the concept.
>
>
> Lulu :0)
>
>
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> *From:* "Kolitsopoulos, Helen (MOECC)" <Helen.Kolitsopoulos at ontario.ca>
> *To:* "butterflybluelu at rogers.com" <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
> *Cc:* "O'Brien, Stevie (MNRF)" <Stevie.OBrien at ontario.ca>; "Mauro, 
> Bill (MNRF)" <Bill.Mauro at ontario.ca>; "cfife-co at ndp.on.ca" 
> <cfife-co at ndp.on.ca>
> *Sent:* Thursday, June 25, 2015 4:21 PM
> *Subject:* ministers letter ENV1283MC-2015-1401
>
> *Ministry of the Environment
> and Climate Change*
> 	
> *Ministère de l'Environnement et de l’Action en matière de changement 
> climatique*
> 	
> Description: NEW_Ont_logo_blk
> Standards Development Branch
> 	
> Direction de lélaboration des normes
> 40 St. Clair Ave. West
> 7^th Floor
> Toronto ON  M4V 1M2
> 	
> 40, avenue St. Clair ouest
> 7^e étage
> Toronto ON  M4V 1M2
> www.ene.gov.on.ca
> 	
> www.ene.gov.on.ca
> Tel.:          416 327-5519
> Fax:          416 327-2936
> 	
> Tél.: 416 327-5519
> Téléc.: 416 327-2936
>
> *_SENT ON BEHALF OF STEVE KLOSE, DIRECTOR_*
> June 25, 2015
> ENV1283MC-2015-1401
> Louisette Lanteigne
> 700 Star Flower Avenue
> Waterloo, ON N2V 2L2
> butterflybluelu at rogers.com <mailto:butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
> Dear Ms. Lanteigne:
> Thank you for your email of May 22, 2015 regarding the sale of 
> Phragmites australis in retail stores here in Ontario.
> I want to assure you that our government shares your concerns 
> regarding the threat that Phragmites poses to our natural resources 
> and biodiversity, and to the economy of Ontario.
> I appreciate you making me aware of your concerns.  The Ministry of 
> Natural Resources and Forestry is the provincial lead on invasive 
> species.  Accordingly, your letter will be forwarded to the Ministry 
> of Natural Resources and Forestry.
> Again, thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.
> Sincerely,
> Steve Klose
> Director
> c:         MPP Catherine Fife – Kitchener-Waterloo
>             Honorable Bill Mauro, Minister, MNRF
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca

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