2022-May-02
Suggested Questions for Ontario MPP Candidates Ahead of June's Election
Ontario voters are going to the poll on June 2, 2022. We encourage all GBA members to question prospective MPP candidates for the upcoming Ontario elections on their commitment to protecting the Great Lakes. In particular their intentions with regard to a range of issues that affect the Georgian Bay. This is best done at “all candidates” meetings in your riding, but other meetings, or approaches to individual candidates also provide an opportunity.
Accordingly, we have put together a number of suggested questions which we would ask you to consider:
- Will you support and uphold the provisions of the Great Lakes Protection Act and the Canada Ontario Agreement that binds Ontario into the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (see here for information on the Act and Agreements and GBA action), for example:
- Will you support funding for coastal Great Lakes municipalities to invest in wastewater infrastructure to avoid sewage overflows/spills into the Great Lakes caused by flash flooding and/or high water levels?
- Will you support action to preserve and help improve biodiversity in the province, such as preservation of species-at-risk habitat, wildlife corridors and wetlands?
- Will you address the open net cage aquaculture operations and their nutrient loading into Georgian Bay and the North Channel (which we submit is not in compliance with the above Act and Agreement) to help reduce the risk of algae blooms in the Bay? (see here for more on aquaculture)? and
- Will you support positive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and boats?
- Do you support the control and eventual eradication of the invasive plant species Phragmites (Australis) from Ontario, since Phragmites is now widely considered to be the most dangerous invasive species in the province (see here for information on invasive phragmites)?
- The budgets for the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (MNR) and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) have been steadily cut back over the last 20+ years by all previous governments and now collectively account for 0.054% (well under 1%) of the overall provincial budget. All evidence shows that their capacity is stretched too thin on core responsibilities, and they are therefore unable to properly protect the Ontario environment and natural heritage. Will you support a call for no more MNR & MECP budget cuts, and a review of how to build back capacity so that these Ministries can effectively protect the Great Lakes?
- Will you support Ontario living up to its responsibilities under Canada’s land protection target of 30% of all lands and water under protection by 2030? Ontario currently stands at 11% due to a lack of commitment to this target, and substantive action will be needed by the Ontario government to fulfill this responsibility.
- How are you intending to engage with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit? How would you uphold the aims of Truth and Reconciliation? Will you deal with indigenous land claims in a respectful and inclusive manner?
- Do you support giving municipalities full authority to regulate floating cottages (see here for more on the floating cottages issue)?
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