The Ontario government is engaging with local partners, Indigenous communities and residents from the Lake Simcoe area to get their input on the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan.
The plan is the roadmap to improve the lake’s water quality, reduce pollutants such as phosphorus, support sustainable fisheries and address the impacts of invasive species. The feedback received will help determine if the document needs to be amended or updated.
Members of the public can take part in the 75-day public review of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan by completing an online public survey between December 18, 2020 and March 3, 2021 and participating in a virtual town hall early in the new year. For more information and other ways to get involved in the review, visit the Protecting Lake Simcoe webpage.
Lake Simcoe Watch has noted that despite the goals set out in the original Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, the government has yet to developed a plan to reduce the phosphorus pollution by 55% in the lake, which is key to improving the water quality and protecting the fishery. They are asking people to contact their MPPs about this issue specifically, which can be done in addition to participating in the survey, where it can also be addressed as an area of concern in Questions 3b and 6.
Based on the engagement and the findings from the review, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will consider making amendments to the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan by the summer of 2021.