RETAIN WESPORT POND AS FISH SANCTUARY - MPP
(Toronto) - In Question Period today, Leeds Grenville MPP Bob Runciman, urged the Minister of Natural Resources to retain the Westport Pond as a fish sanctuary.
Runciman has been contacted by Westport and area residents and businesses very concerned about the Ministry’s announced intent to lift the pond’s sanctuary status as part of a plan to “streamline” the province’s fishing regulations.
“The sanctuary is a tourism magnet for the area and it costs the government virtually nothing,” said Runciman. “The idea of removing the pond’s designation is completely misguided.”
The Tory House Leader also called on the government to hold a public meeting in the Rideau area before finalizing the regulations.
Hansard
WESTPORT POND
Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds–Grenville): I have a question for the Minister of Natural Resources. I’m not sure you’ve ever visited the village of Westport, but the chap sitting in front of you has on a number of occasions, and he can tell you about the Westport Pond. It’s been designated as a sanctuary for approximately 50 years. Now, under this review of fishing regulations in the province of Ontario undertaken by your ministry, you are indicating that you’re going to remove the sanctuary designation. You’ve been contacted by the Westport and Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce, the village council and many others with respect to their concern. This is a major tourist attraction in this small, beautiful village. There’s no cost associated with maintaining the sanctuary designation, which has been in place for half a century. Will you commit today to retaining that designation for the Westport Pond in that beautiful village?
Hon. David Ramsay (Minister of Natural Resources, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs): As the member knows, from time to time we revisit all our regulations in regards to the management of wildlife in Ontario. The member knows that right now we are revisiting our very complicated fishing regulations and reducing fishing zones from 37 across this province down to 20, at the same time basing those on ecological zones that are sensitive to weather, water temperature and fish species so that we get a more accurate read and control of fishing, and doing that to enhance habitat. I think, in the end, when we get through this, we’ll have better regulations and better habitat for fish and more flourishing fish life in this province.
Mr. Runciman: That kind of response is what disappoints people right across the province. I asked him a very specific question about the Westport Pond, and he got up and talked about nothing anywhere related to my question.
I’ll go back to the minister. This is a significant concern in this small, beautiful community. This impacts across the whole Rideau Lakes area. I’m asking you, are you going to retain the sanctuary designation for the Westport Pond? Also, in terms of regulations, will you commit to having a public meeting in the Rideau area before you finalize those regulations?
Hon. Mr. Ramsay: I would want to assure the member that no decision is final there. I obviously will take the member’s advice on this. We have received some letters and phone calls on this particular issue. We obviously want to listen to that local input. I’m very pleased that the member has brought that up to me again today, and I will work with the member and we will resolve this issue.
