2015-Jun-04
Environment Bill of Rights – GBA Response
June 4, 2015 – Environment Bill of Rights – GBA Response to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resouces and Forestry (OMNR&F) recent posting
The following three documents were written in response to a recent posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights web site by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNR&F). This posting was to advise the public that the existing commercial aquaculture licenses were being renewed including a 20% increase in feed quota and, in one case, the ability to raise other species of fish than Rainbow Trout. GBA objects to this increased feed quota as it will translate into 20% more pollution coming from these cage operations into public waters. We also feel that the increased feed quota and the introduction of different fish species should trigger a more fulsome Environmental Screening process than has been used by the OMNR&F to date. The three documents are; our response to the OMNR&F on their EBR positing, a letter to the Premier detailing our concerns and a letter to Environment Canada in their role as the Canadian overseer for the bi-national Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement which has strong language in it concerning phosphorous pollution.
