Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2007
Head Appointed for Local Water Committee
A local lawyer with a wide range of experience in environmental matters has been appointed as Chair of a multi-stakeholder committee that will develop plans to protect local sources of municipal drinking water.
Jim Hunt was appointed by Laurel Broten, Minister of the Environment, on August 20, 2007 as Chair of the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee. The Committee will develop Source Protection Plans focused on the protection of municipal sources of drinking water within the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region. This area extends across the Trent/Ganaraska River watersheds, covering a 14,500 square kilometre area stretching from Algonquin Park to Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte .
The committee will be established under the Clean Water Act which was passed by the Ontario legislature last year to implement recommendations of the Walkerton Inquiry. Hunt will work with the Source Protection Committee over the next several years, consulting with the general public and stakeholder groups on how significant drinking water threats can be reduced, eliminated or prevented, who is responsible for taking action, and how progress will be measured.
Hunt's background in geography and with various environmental issues, combined with his Walkerton Inquiry, municipal council and legal experience positions him as an ideal candidate to Chair the Source Protection Committee for Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region.
I have a passion about water and look forward to working with the committee members as well as the public to address any issues or concerns that exist around municipal drinking water supplies within the region, explains Hunt. It is an honour to be selected as Chair for this committee.
Under the umbrella of the Trent Conservation Coalition, the Kawartha, Crowe Valley , Ganaraska Region, Lower Trent and Otonabee Conservation Authorities have been working over the past two years to develop an understanding of the sources of municipal drinking water. Conservation Authorities will provide facilitation, coordination and technical support to the local Source Protection Committee.
The Source Protection Committee will be comprised of individuals representing various stakeholder groups across the region:
| Municipal Sector | Economic Sector | Other Interests |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal (7) | Agricultural (3) | Environmental Non Government (1) |
| Aggregate/Mining (1) | Waterfront Landowner (1) | |
| R ecreation/Tourism (1) | Drinking Water Expert (2) | |
| Economic Development (1) | Trent-Severn Waterway (1) | |
| Large Non-municipal Water User (1) | Public rural & urban (2) |
(plus 3 seats reserved for First Nations)
To date, we have not received applications from individuals wishing to represent the aggregate/mining or large, non-municipal water user, says Glenda Rodgers, Project Manager for the Source Protection Program. We would like to have a Committee that represents all sectors across the region and encourage interested people to submit their application.
Information on how to apply for a seat on the committee is available at www.trentsourceprotection.on.ca or by calling 613-394-3915 ext. 245. The deadline for applications is October 3, 2007.
The initiative to protect sources of municipal drinking water is directed and funded by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment with technical, scientific and administrative assistance provided through local Conservation Authorities.
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For more information, contact:
Glenda Rodgers, p roject m anager , Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region
613-394-3915 ext. 246
Mark Majchrowski, director, watershed management, 705 328-2271 ext 215
Lezlie Goodwin, communications specialist, 705 328-2271 ext 233