Town of Georgina leads at Lake Simcoe

On April 2nd, the Town of Georgina unanimously supported a motion brought forward by the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition and the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, to urge provincial action on salt pollution. The motion asks Ontario to do two things; create a framework for the snow and ice management sector that would allow them to stop oversalting; and establish a provincial stakeholder advisory committee to recommend how Ontario should manage its salt pollution problem affecting freshwater ecosystems. Georgina Councillor Dave Neeson championed the motion to the Town of Georgina Council. Georgina follows the District of Muskoka in support of the resolution and urges other Municipalities to follow.

“Lake Simcoe municipalities have the most to gain from these proposed actions, and the most to lose if the province does nothing,” says Councillor Neeson. “I am always proud to represent Lake Simcoe’s best interests in my role in local government.” Neeson is a “Lake Simcoe Avenger”, the name given to the team that regularly supports non profits’ efforts to clean up Lake Simcoe. 

Following the unanimous endorsement, Mayor Margaret Quirk reiterated Georgina’s support for, and leadership on environmental and health issues. Georgina was a major proponent of the $24 million phosphorus reduction plant, planned to be built on the Holland River, with federal and provincial funding. 

On April 1st, the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition presentation was made to the Georgina Environmental Advisory Committee, which also passed the motion unanimously. The topic and background information was shared with Neeson by two Georgina community members, Mary Jane Hanley, and a Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition Board member and educator, Susan Sheard. 

Hanley says, “Members of Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition (RLSC) are excited that Councillor Neeson will be tabling this motion to introduce the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition’s initiative at Town Council, and for the opportunity to work with the Town of Georgina leadership to advance efforts. The goal of this initiative is to encourage the Ontario provincial government to take action against salt pollution as it is a critical problem for our sensitive Freshwater Ecosystem and our drinking water sources in the Lake Simcoe watershed. In addition, road salt damages public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings and private properties.”

Sheard notes, “Given that some Georgina residents are already experiencing unsafe levels of salt in their tap water; that five Lake Simcoe watershed rivers already contain chloride levels that are deadly to aquatic life; and that Lake Simcoe is on a trajectory to reach chronic salinity in 33 years, it’s clear that action must be taken without delay.”

Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition’s Executive Director asked the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) Board to endorse the resolution in principle, on March 28th. The LSRCA has been studying, and leading work on salt pollution for decades. The Board resolved to re-do two actions they took in December 2023: to write a letter to the new Minister of  Environment, Conservation and Parks, Todd McCarthy; and to write their own motion for municipalities to pass in support of establishing technical standards and a Provincial regulatory framework that limits liability for contractors following best practices to ensure public safety, business sustainability, and environmental protection.

The RLSC is advocating for these solutions to salt pollution because they are supported by research and analysis done by the LSRCA, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Drinking Water Source Protection Committees. Members of the public who support taking care of Lake Simcoe can ask their Councils and Councillors to pass the resolution as well. 

Individuals can help by going to www.saltcoalition.ca and submitting a comment to Ontario officials that we need urgent action on this issue. Businesses can support the campaign goals, too, by signing a letter to the province here.