1. March 14, 2013

2. Picnic Island 2011 Picnic Island 2012 Just look out your door...

3. Agenda Georgian Bay Leaders – an introduction What we are seeing around the Bay What we intend to do about it We need your help

4. Leaders Who Want Action Assiginack Archipelago Beausoleil First Nation Blue Mountains Billings Carling Central Manitoulin Collingwood Georgian Bay Georgian Bluffs Gore Bay Killarney McDougall Meaford Midland North Eastern Manitoulin Island Northern Bruce Peninsula Owen Sound Parry Sound Penetanguishene Plummer Seguin Severn South Bruce Peninsula Tay Tiny Wasaga Beach

5. Our Focus Georgian Bay Identifiable harms caused by declining water level Action for 2013 Our focus is not to engage in the international debate over the cause and solutions to regulate the water levels in the Great Lakes

6. Case Book

7. Reports the impact of low water that individuals, businesses and municipalities are seeing around the Bay 24 of 44 municipalities have reported so far Section 1: Financial harms for 2013 Section 2: Structural harms Georgian Bay economy Real estate value Tax base First Nations Enjoyment of property and life

8. Marinas - 68 marinas affected - dredging and blasting - slips cannot be used - marina to be relocated Report from Carling: “Two of the area’s 5 marinas expect to lose 72 of their 230 slips due to low water in 2013. If no remedial work is undertaken, revenue loss will be $100- 150,000. Staffing reductions will be about 2,500 hrs. Dredging is required at a cost of $330,000. “

9. Municipalities - 31 government facilities - harbours need dredging - water intakes relocated - town docks stranded - public beaches unusable Report from Kagawong Village: “The water system has an intake which is now in perilously low water. If the intake is blocked, all households and businesses in the hamlet will be affected.”

10. Businesses - 76 businesses affected - reduced hours - reduced/no water access - staff lay-offs - closure Report from Owen Sound: “Ontario Northland, operator of the Chi Cheemaun ferry, is concerned about having enough water to dock the ferry in Owen Sound.”

11. 2013 Cost of “Coping” - Estimated at $20 million - Cost of dredging - Cost of dock repairs - Viability of a community Report from Beausoleil First Nation: “The vehicular ferry (Indian Maiden) is a critical transportation link. It must be available 24/7 for emergencies. The low water has resulted in the number of passengers being reduced to 40 from 70. Emergency ambulance runs have had to be cancelled.”

12. Special Report – Trent Severn Waterway: “The Trent-Severn waterway is a major access point to Georgian Bay. The exit channel from the Severn Waterway into Georgian Bay (at Hwy 400 underpass) now has only 5 feet of draft. Boats will soon not be able to exit, closing the waterway.”

13. Structural Harms Loss of real estate value. Subsequent impact on municipal tax base Impact unknown Accommodative repairs to residential cottage properties Estimated at $500 million currently Litigation from changing property boundaries Impact unknown

14. Structural Harms cont’d Replacement of municipal shoreline infrastructure Individual projects (municipal wharf, water intake) in the millions of dollars each Losses to the Georgian Bay tourism and general economy Estimated at $50-100 million per year Disruption of the First Nations’ societies and way of life Inestimable

15. A Plan of Immediate Action

16. Provincial Assistance Your Leaders are requesting: Financial support for business Shared funding (eg. 50%-50%) Used for most remedial action – docks, dredging, etc Easy terms (file claim after money spent – no prior approval) Cottager incentives Program to support cottagers fixing personal docks, water pipes, etc Permit streamlining Dredging/ Blasting Half loads for moving material Assistance from Premier in taking our case to Ottawa

17. Approach to Province Initial meetings with Ministers at OGRA (February) Request a special meeting with Premier and Ministers of MNR, MoE, Finance and MMAH (March) Develop programs with Province (April) Program delivery by summer

18. Provincial Opposition Parties Your Leaders are requesting: Encourage/support Kathleen Wynne in meeting with us Meet with respective critics for: Finance, MNR, MoE and MMAH Have the PC caucus assist us in reaching federal PC Ministers Outreach to PC, NDP and Green parties underway

19. Federal Assistance Your Leaders are requesting: Financial relief program for affected businesses, similar to the 2000 program Income tax relief for cases of proven harm and loss of income/asset Streamlining of DFO permits and regulations for dredging

20. Approach to Federal Government Meet with the PC “Georgian Bay Committee” made up of T. Clement, L. Miller, K. Leitch, B. Stanton. (March) Meet with cabinet Ministers - Baird, Flaherty and Kent (April) Develop programs with departments (Summer) Program delivery by fall

21. We Need Your Help

22. Our Request of You Write a letter by March 31st Tell your story - the impacts that you are seeing Mention that you support the “Georgian Bay Leaders initiative” Tell your friends – time is short

23. Provincial Contact Kathleen Wynne Premier of Ontario Room 281 111 Wellesley Street West Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1 Email: kwynne.mpp@liberal.ola.org Tel 416-325-1941

24. Federal Contact Tony Clement MP Parry Sound-Muskoka House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Email: tony.clement@parl.gc.ca Tel: (613)944-7740