[GREN-Exec] Save the Date November 8! Stakeholder Information Session Ontario's Proposed Wetland Conservation Strategy

[Kevin Thomason]

Hi Greg and Gren'ers

Indeed, I agree with Greg and feel that it is very important that strong feedback be given to the provincial government on their proposed Wetland Conservation Strategy - in particular the very controversial and challenging issue of wetland offsetting.

To clear the record though, as the President of Ontario Nature, I can assure you that we have many concerns about this offsetting policy and are making 19 different recommendations to the province.  Attached below is a very detailed 60 page report on Biodiversity Offsetting in Ontario released this past week by Ontario Nature.  It is intended to provide clear direction, feedback and future directions to the provincial government.

Please feel free to read through the report and let me know any questions or ideas.  I should also note that Region of Waterloo has taken a strong stance on offsetting and has recently fought cases before the OMB to try to prevent this practice from being established by developers in our region.

As Greg suggests please be sure to speak up and ensure that your voice is heard at Queen's Park on the Wetland Conservation Strategy.  Please also remember the upcoming deadline of October 31st for feedback on the Greenbelt and Growth Plans, as well as the November 1st date for the OMB Provincial Review Open House in Guelph.

Cheers,
Kevin.



----------------------------

On Oct 21, 2016, at 1:00 PM, Gregory C. Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca> wrote:

> There is a serious weakness in the proposed wetland strategy.  It follows an American pattern of allowing developers to "compensate" the destruction of wetlands affected by development projects with "constructed wetlands" that project proponents will establish elsewhere.  This practice is a slippery slope and there is reason to fear that it lets developers off the hook and will lead to the loss of wetlands that should be kept.  I think GREN needs to strongly object to this provision.  I'm disappointed that Ontario Nature, an expected ally in opposing this provision, has gone on record of accepting this deficient policy.  We need to speak up!  I'm willing to take on some of the responsibility.
> - Greg
> From: Executive [executive-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Theo Negoita [ante712-gren at yahoo.ca]
> Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:39 PM
> To: GREN Executive
> Subject: [GREN-Exec] Fw: Save the Date November 8! Stakeholder Information Session Ontario's Proposed Wetland Conservation Strategy
> 
> FYI
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: "McIntosh, Terese (MNRF)" <terese.mcintosh at ontario.ca>
> To: "McIntosh, Terese (MNRF)" <terese.mcintosh at ontario.ca> 
> Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 3:18 PM
> Subject: Save the Date November 8! Stakeholder Information Session Ontario's Proposed Wetland Conservation Strategy
> 
> Dear Colleagues,
>  
> As many of you are aware, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry received a mandate to work with other ministries, municipalities and partners to review Ontario’s broad wetland framework and identify opportunities to strengthen policies and stop the net loss of wetlands.  In the fall of 2015, as a first step towards achieving this mandate, a document titled “Wetland Conservation in Ontario: A Discussion Paper” was posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry (www.ebr.gov.on.ca, ER posting number 012-4464). The purpose of this document was to raise the awareness of, and provide information about, wetlands and to stimulate ideas for a strategic plan for Ontario’s wetlands.  The posting was followed by numerous engagement sessions which included focused discussions, public workshops and stakeholder meetings.  The feedback obtained from environmental registry comments and these sessions was used to inform the next step in the process - development of a proposed Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario.
>  
> A proposed Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario was posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry (www.ebr.gov.on.ca, ER posting number 012-7675) on August 8th of this year, with a 100 day comment period closing on November 16th.  The proposed Strategy represents a guiding framework for coordinating the conservation of Ontario's wetlands across the province.  It includes a clear vision, goals and outcomes for wetlands in Ontario and sets out a series of actions the government will incrementally undertake over the next 15 years to improve wetland conservation.
>  
> I encourage you to participate in the review process by submitting formal comments through the Environmental Registry posting.  I also invite you to participate in a facilitated information session on Tuesday, November 8 (10:00 am to 1:00 pm) at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto to discuss the proposed Wetland Conservation Strategy and provide an opportunity for input.  Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues within your organization.
>  
> For further information please don’t hesitate to contact myself or Adam Hogg,  A/Sr. Wetland Policy Advisor,  Natural Heritage Section, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (adam.hogg at ontario.ca or 705 755-5165).  Please RSVP with Adam Hogg.
>  
> Thank you for your interest in conserving Ontario’s wetlands.   I look forward to seeing you on the 8th. 
>  
> Sincerely,
>  
> Terese McIntosh on behalf of Ala Boyd
>  
> Ala Boyd
> Manager
> Natural Heritage Section
> Natural Resources Conservation Policy Branch
> Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
> T:  (705) 755-5088
> F:  (705) 755-2168
> E:  ala.boyd at ontario.ca
>  
> 
> 
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> Executive mailing list
> Executive at gren.ca
> http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/executive_gren.ca

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