GBA Update Summer 2024

ED ADVOCACY REPORT

By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director

A s your association presidents learned at our recent Annual Meeting of Members on April 6, there is always a lot going on at GBA! In this report, I will provide a brief update on some of the key files: Float Homes Not Vessels Coalition The name for this Coalition uses the BC terminology for these accommodation units. It reflects our core objective of getting the same regulations that have existed in BC since 2001 in place in Ontario so we can make sure that floating homes are properly regulated, with safety and environmental impacts addressed. Recently, this Coalition received support from Parks Canada when they introduced a proposal for mooring restrictions for floating accommodations on the Trent-Severn Waterway, which are planned to take effect on May 1, 2024. Many thanks to all of you who sent an email supporting this. It takes us one step closer. The Coalition continues to get strong support from many municipalities. Thank you for all you are doing. Look for further updates here: https://bit.ly/floathomes Proposed Trans Canada Energy (TCE) electricity pumped storage project at Meaford Since the last UPDATE issue, both TCE and the local opposition group Save Georgian Bay (SGB) have been delivering presentations to several Georgian Bay municipalities on the pros and cons of this proposal. Since the Township of the Archipelago passed a resolution opposing

the project, others have followed suit. TCE is trying to reverse these resolutions and extoll their project's virtues, while SGB is looking to expand municipal opposition based on Georgian Bay-wide and province-wide impacts. An interesting debate is unfolding. The experts on this matter in Ontario, the Independent Electricity Supply Operator (IESO), will still not support the project, considering it a bad financial deal for the province. Still, TCE continues to try to convince them otherwise. Updates on projected timing, capital costs and the IESO-TCE contract parameters (needed before TCE can proceed) are expected shortly. Plastic Pollution in the Bay It is often hard to see what we can do to prevent impacts such as plastic pollution from degrading our water quality, but for the two issues that GBA is working on, there is something we can do. As the cover article shows, microfibres are a clear and present threat. GBA is moving forward on two fronts to combat this: ≥ Establishing consensus on legislation to require filters in washing machines ≥ Ensuring regulations are in place for banning the use of unencapsulated dock foam Details and updates can be found here: https://bit.ly/GBA-TCE

www.georgianbay.ca

GBA UPDATE Summer 2024

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