Smaller Ontario lake gets more cash
APPARENTLY, size doesn't matter.
At least not under the federal government's new $93-million national water strategy.
"Are you kidding me?" Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin asked.
Martin said $7 million is "only enough to monitor (the lake's) demise."
"All Manitoba MPs from every political stripe should be demanding support based on the environmental need, not based on political pandering to vote-rich Ontario," Martin said.
The national water strategy was announced in last year's federal budget, but more than seven months later Ottawa still hasn't given the Manitoba government an idea as to when the money will flow or how it can be spent.
"This funding is not enough," said Melnick.
While both lakes contend with the negative impacts of tourism, recreational use and agricultural runoff, only Lake Winnipeg has a commercial fishing industry -- employing more than 2,600 people and valued at $55-million to the provincial economy.
She said she has spoken to Environment Minister John Baird for an answer about how the money can be used but she hasn't had a response yet.
"It's very important to use the money for pure science," Melnick said.
A spokesman from Baird's office hinted to the Free Press Friday there may be more money coming for Lake Winnipeg.
"Stay tuned," he said. "We think we have a good news announcement coming. We're working hard to make an announcement very shortly."
Last week, Baird appointed consultants to advise him how the Lake Simcoe money should be spent.
Lake Simcoe, just north of Toronto, struggles with fish dying off due to algae growth and the appearance of the parasitic zebra mussels. Lake Winnipeg has not had to deal with zebra mussels.
Ken Neale, manager of corporate communications for the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority said there are already programs to give people advice and financial help to address things such as agricultural runoff.
He's hoping the money from the national program will be put towards extending those programs to urban contributions to Lake Simcoe's pollution. There are 23 municipalities in the Lake Simcoe area including the city of Barrie, which was recently listed as the fastest growing city in the country, according to the 2006 census.
Lake Winnipeg, at 24,514 square kilometres, is Manitoba's greatest natural asset. It is the 10th largest freshwater lake in the world and has a watershed of close to one million square kilometres, covering parts of four provinces and four U.S. states.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/local/story/4066273p-4668709c.html
http://www.fishlakemanitobanarrows.com