[All] Good news from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

[Gregory C. Michalenko]

There is already a strong, healthy citizens' movement to control Phragmites in Ontario, now organized under the Phragmites Working Group of the Ontario Invasive Plants Council.  It has numerous projects in progress led by local groups, particularly along Lake Huron, regular strategy and instructional meetings, and one project being organized in the Laurel Creek Headwaters area where Deb Swidrowich, Jane Schneider, Kevin Thomason  and others are getting things underway.  Daphne Nichols has also been active in her neighbourhood.  Recently instructional videos have been produced for specific target groups, such as municipal road crews since Phragmites' route of invasion is most often along roads and ditches.  No need to worry abut inaction regarding this trouble-maker! Citizens are well ahead of the government on this one, and we are pleased that authorities are generally responding well to assist this upsurge of interest.
- Greg
________________________________
From: All [all-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Louisette Lanteigne [butterflybluelu at rogers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 11:18 PM
To: GREN >
Subject: [All] Good news from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Here's some good news. We need to stand behind Bill 37.

Lulu :0)

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: MIN Feedback (MNRF) <minister.mnrf at ontario.ca>
To: "butterflybluelu at rogers.com" <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
Cc: "Minister, MOECC (MOECC)" <Minister.MOECC at ontario.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 4:02 PM
Subject: Message from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

MNR5805MC-2015-1373
July 21, 2015

butterflybluelu at rogers.com<mailto:butterflybluelu at rogers.com>


Your email of May 22, 2015 to the Honourable Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, regarding European Common Reed Phragmites australis subsp. australis was forwarded to me for response. Thank you for sharing your concerns.

Ontario is taking strong action to address the threat that invasive species pose to our environment, economy and society. To combat this serious problem, our government introduced Bill 37, the proposed Invasive Species Act, in November 2014. If passed, it will enable Ontario to list and regulate invasive species, such as prohibitions on sale.

Our government has taken additional steps to address invasive species with the Ontario’s Invasive Species Strategic Plan. Specifically, my ministry has developed provincial best management practices for Phragmites to ensure consistent and effective control of this invasive plant across Ontario. We have also worked with the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC) on the development of the Grow Me Instead Guide. The guide encourages gardeners to plant native and non-invasive alternatives to invasive plants. This guide can be found at the OIPC’s website at www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca<http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/>.

Again, thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

Bill Mauro
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry

c:     The Honourable Glen Murray


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