Winter is hanging around longer than expected and probably longer than many would wish. But given the kind of winter it’s been, I for one would be happy to see a gradual transition to spring. The reason I say this is that if spring returns in a measured fashion, it will be very beneficial in helping to reduce the likelihood of flooding. As you know, we received a lot of snow this past winter and I share the concerns of many with respect to the potential for high water.
With that in mind, we have taken some steps to mitigate that.
On March 13th, I signed an order that would continue to draw down the water level at Round Lake at a slow, consistent rate over several weeks for up to 20 centimetres. Our belief is that by having less water in Round Lake when the freshet inevitably comes, it will allow us to hold more than we previously could have under the Water Management Plan. The municipalities encompassing Round Lake and Golden Lake, as well as their property associations, were made aware of these measures and are supportive of them.
While we have taken the steps we believe to be prudent, everything will be dependent on how Mother Nature treats us. I’m hoping and praying for the best.
I’m so grateful to my constituency staff, who continue to provide excellent service to our residents in spite of the fact that I can’t be around as much as I used to.
In the last number of weeks, my Fridays have been very busy. I’ve had the pleasure to attend forestry roundtables in North Bay and Thunder Bay, where we continue to work with the forestry industry as we develop a forestry strategy that will ensure this vital industry’s sustainability for generations to come. I have more planned in the future, including one in Pembroke and one in the Timmins/Kapuskasing/Hearst region. In all, we will hold seven roundtables through the winter and early spring.
I was also able to participate in the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, where my ministry has a huge presence, as we demonstrate our support for all those who participate in the activities of fishing and hunting and all the tourism businesses that benefit from all these activities. The Show was one of the busiest I have ever been able to attend, and it was great to speak to so many people and receive their feedback on how we can function better as a ministry.
On Friday the 29th, I’ll be in Caledon to host our first ever Summit for Aggregate Reform. We’ll be meeting with stakeholders from all across the province, including some from my riding, to discuss issues and receive their input on how we can best manage this resource and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden while still maintaining a commitment to conservation and the environment.
Our government will be presenting its first budget on April 11th, and I look forward to talking about our plan to be open for business and open for jobs in Ontario and maintaining our commitment to balance in a responsible manner.
I must say I was very disappointed with the release of the federal budget and the Trudeau Liberal government’s decision to continue with a punitive carbon tax, which will come into effect on April 1st. This will drive up the cost of everything, particularly to those of us who live in rural communities.
As Premier Ford has said so many times, you can be for jobs, or you can be for a carbon tax, but you can’t be for both.
If you have any concerns or issues you wish to discuss, please contact my constituency office. We would be more than happy to hear from you.
Berry, N. (2019,Mar.22) A Message from Queen’s Park – A Monthly Column by MPP John Yakabuski [Media release]
