The Canadian government has responded to an action plan for the natural and cultural heritage of the Trent-Severn Waterway, the largest watershed in Ontario and one of the largest of Canada's National Sites managed by Parks Canada.
Parks Canada Mandate for Trent-Severn Waterway
At a technical briefing in Peterborough, Ontario, on October 2, 2009, the priorities of the Action Plan were outlined by the Director of Ontario Priority Initiatives, Doug Stewart.
Speaking to the media by phone from Ottawa, Alexander explained that the action plan originated with a motion in Parliament to create an independent review panel on the Future of the Trent-Severn Waterway, evaluating its potential as a contributor to the economic, cultural and educational communities of Ontario and Canada.
After a series of 32 public meetings, over one thousand participants and 150 written briefs, the panel submitted a report on April 28, 2008 to the Minister of Environment outlining 26 recommendations divided into themes:
More Than Boats and Tourists
- Improving the Performance of Governments
- Assuring the Future of the Water
- Planning for Future Places to Live and Enjoy
- Encouraging the Development of Renewable Energy
- Protecting, Presenting, and Enjoying our Cultural Heritage
- Improving the Condition of Waterway Infrastructure
Trent-Severn Waterway Action Plan Highlights
The government plans to bring forward the following priorities:
- Clarify Jurisdiction - Developing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ontario government within six months for the purpose of detailing areas of collaboration and coordination.
- Review Water Management Policies - Establishing an advisory panel to protect the healthy future of the water.
- Create a Planner's Forum - Working with municipalities and other organizations for coordinating waterfront development possibilities.
- Encourage Renewable Energy - Creating a dedicated unit in Peterborough, Ontario to lead hydroelectric development in the waterway.
- Nurture a Heritage Network - Working with heritage organizations will encourage public awareness, education and visitor experience.
- Target Tourism - Developing a Destination Tourism Organization will provide a coordinated approach to tourism with other stakeholders in the Trent-Severn watershed.
TSW Feedback A Positive Experience
Doug Stewart was positive about the panel process, referring to it as "an important first step...in scoping out for us key issues...and challenges we need to address."
Referring to the feedback received about boating, tourism, water management, recreation, energy development and public awareness, Stewart said "it was the first time we've ever heard that clearly what's on the minds of all organizations and residents who live along that corridor."
Trent-Severn Waterway Facts and Figures
The 386 km Trent-Severn Waterway stretches from Lake Ontario at the Bay of Quine (at Trenton) to Georgian Bay through a 45 lock system including 36 conventional locks, two flight locks, two hydraulic lift locks and a marine railway. Open from mid-May to mid-October, it is accessible to boaters from the U.S. and Canada via the great lakes as well as the St. Lawrence River. The system runs through the heart of the Kawartha Lakes region, a popular destination for canoeing and birding.
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