jedi jeffi

There are a number of watersheds in Halton Region, Oakville Creek, Bronte Creek, Credit River. Quote from the site: Conservation Halton is updating its strategic plan, Towards a Healthy Watershed, for 2009 to 2013. This is an important document as it sets out our priorities for the next five years to protect, restore and manage the resources in our watershed. A draft 2009 to 2013 Strategic Plan for Conservation Halton has been prepared and we would like your comments on it. By participating in the development of the Strategic Plan you will be helping to make decisions to protect the water, trees, green space and wildlife in our community. A copy of Conservation Halton's draft 2009 to 2013 Strategic Plan can be found here http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/upl ... 20Plan.pdf or you can call 905-336-1158 to receive a copy by mail. You can Provide Comments by attending our: Public Open House Tuesday December 2, 2008 6:30-9:00 p.m., presentation starts at 7 p.m. sharp Conservation Halton Administration Office/ Healthy Watershed Centre 2596 Britannia Road West (just west of Guelph Line) All comments must be received by Monday, December 22nd, 2008 Unquote. Conservation Halton site http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/Sho ... CatID=1010 Jeff

Well now that we've kissed and made up, a point made earlier about other problems. Untill now I never had thought about it. A thread section that will link you to online petitions. The vet issue got me thinking about the one started last year about getting help for the wounded. First it never should have had to go that route. That said it would have happened a lot faster if more groups where quickly made aware. And they are still fighting for proper support After watching the actors after the T.O. film festival whine aobut not enough for the arts .........now your getting steamed They get news at 6 & 11 were trying to get chain emails out about protecting waterways, and the feds still have not stepped up to the plate for the military, well maybe they have, the dinner plate. so no matter what the issue. It's time to get tough on all of them, Go back to fight'n the neighbours later It's not the sweater, it's whats in it that counts

Passion is good, the debate is good, and Verminator you picked up the the ball, the gov't guys don't expect Canadians to do that, and that said ...Thanks! A few people speaking up is not going to do, If you feel real strong, about any of those issues you have to inspire your neighbour too! and most Canadians don't like to be politicial. I just went to the neighobours that enjoy the outdoors like me, then we get them together, and we inspire the rest of the neighbourhood. Jeff

and that's how they push all the bad stuff though (play nice guys!) Right through the middle. I paddle and play old timers hockey with 2 retired Military guys. I don't like the treatment of the Vets either, and have put my name to that issue. The trick is if you yell and scream, no one listens, but ask a tough question in public, everyone else knows a canned response. Fight them we win Fight ourselves and the save the issue for the next election and the next one and..... Jeff

And water is part of the environment, this act is about more than just access rights. the way it is written now if there are to be any "works" on a water shed, then it had to be made "known." Which gives people a chance to make sure their water is protected, the trouble was poeple were starting to understand how the act worked. It's complicated, Sending an email on any of these issues is not hard, trying to get back your rights after they take them away will be hard. Jeff

and you need lots of nails. And you have to stand up. If you judge by the T.O. Sun editorial, link at the top. The public is not pushing any buttons. This election more than any other in recent memory has the posabilities to get those things. This is just one issue, and you can either stand up or not, And I am pushing the buttons as you, I just choose this one for me to get up on the soap box, and I have carried that box to alot of places. I am just trying to give back so others can enjoy as many years as I have outside (born in 55) So post some letters for copy and paste and away you go, plus a "few" hours of surfing to find out where it will make the biggest difference. Jeff

It's been a problem since the "shortage" of the 70's (yeah I can still remember) Just like all the other issues all talk no do. The accountability is the real issue, And I am taking them to task for your right to go fishing/hunting/boating where you want to. If someone wants to lead the charge I'll sign up for that one too, but my budget is stretched to the limit the same as yours. Force them to answer all your questions. It's all about the $ and until they stop getting it, well, gas speculators my....... Jeff

I am not a fan of chain e-mails and have never forwarded one, (except for child find ) let alone start one. However, if you are concerned for Canadian rivers or the debate(s) on other environmental concerns, then pass this on! I am not supported by any political party or major environmental group and have no multi-million dollar advertising budget. Only my passion for paddling and being outdoors propels me. So, equipped with the internet and written word as my tools, I hope to spread the word to help preserve our rights under the Navigable Waters Protection Act. This Act, enshrined in law, gives all Canadians access to waterways and protects access to those waterways for future generations - the ability to canoe, kayak, power boat, to fish and to hunt, much the same as Canadians 100 years ago, except instead of doing it to survive we do it for recreation. In the recent past, Canadians have learned to use this Act for protection of their water ways. The Act required that “works” be made known, giving a chance for concerned citizens to voice their concerns over those proposed projects. If Canadians, even 40 years ago, showed the same concern for their environment we would not be using huge amounts of tax dollars to rehabilitate the many cement ditches and destroyed urban watersheds. The proposed changes brought forward in June of this year are cause for great concern to the ordinary user of Canadian water ways. “Too silent to be real” These words from Gordon Lightfoot’s “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” instantly place an image in your mind of the vast tracts of Canadian wilderness. The trouble is - as we go into this election, the silence is real. Canadian rivers/watersheds are under unprecedented assault. The politicians are silent. The majority of big environmental groups are silent. The big professional groups/outfitters in all outdoor user groups are silent. This leaves just a few ordinary Canadians voicing their concerns, trying to ensure the rights given to you over 100 years ago are preserved. We can understand the need for changes, We can also understand the need for a fast track mechanism to build infrastructure projects. But we also understand that these works need to be done in an environmentally way as to safeguard the health of the watersheds. There should be approved construction/water treatment processes that evolve with technological advancements. We also believe that the Canadian public should not have to subsidize industry so that they may profit. When looking for someone to quote, the person’s words who I felt were most appropriate were by Rev. Martin Niemoller. (His words at the end) I believe that Martin Niemoeller’s words were meant for more than man’s inhumanity to man. As humans continue to assault the planet I believe we should heed his words. And, as Rev. Niemoeller did, I release this letter to the public domain. I am Jeff McColl, Milton, Ontario I am just a mailman. I speak for Canadian Rivers! http://www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.com/ We can make a difference! Forward/copy this to everyone, including the politicians. Let them know you are speaking up! “First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.” - Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

For years across the country all outdoor user groups have been trying to save their little areas of paradise, much of the time with the cards stacked against them. For the first time we have an issue that has crossed the boundaries and one that could equally affect us all the same. We now have over 100 various organizations across Canada mentioning the Navigable Waters Protection Act, but still we have made little inroads with the average outdoor user or Canadian that may rarely venture out to the waterways. We have no budget for advertising, No budget for lobbyists. No politicians in our pocket. And if this works, Priceless! So here we go! I know this is really reaching and will most likely offend a few people. I will place it as a separate post so it is a clean copy and paste. But I don’t see any other way to make sure that the outdoor user groups get invited to the table at the next round. That is the least I am hoping for. The big kids have their own agenda The average urban dweller has no idea what they may lose. In this experiment of the “6 degrees of separation” on the lighter side I am hoping for a dinner with Kevin Bacon or at least a benefit concert from his band to fund some lobbyists.( I’ll make sure you get the good tickets) And as much as you may offend people on your email list consider what may happen if no outdoor user groups get invited again. So to get to eat at the table we have to use what tools we have, time is running short. Hey! It’s my name at the bottom and if I look like a fool, well it’s not the first time, and I am sure I will have plenty of other opportunities! There are others who have risked much more, so I stand up for them. There are far more educated/informed people, who should have that seat than me. I’ll be happy with the dessert! Jeff McColl Edit check out todays TO sun editorial. http://www.torontosun.com/comment/editoria...15/6766111.html

Let's make this simple build dam, kill off spawning beds in the fast water. Trout river become koi pond Fence off Dam land areas because of liability issues, Sneak in to fish, get charged with trespassing, Your crown lands given away for next to nothing so someone else can make a profit. In Ontario many of the sites are on rivers that normally in the dry months (3 months or more) this year was abnormally wet. No one is argueing their will be a need for more hydro but destroying entire watersheds shouldn't be an option. You can do nothing or you can make sure there is something left for the next guy. Think of it as catch and release. Fish farms and hatchers are not the answer, look at the disease problem in the farms, and no government wants to fund restocking any more, You join a group and you fund raise to help out. Why can't the dam builders be responsable for the costs of maintaining the fish stocks.... Go ahead build the dams, but cover the true costs, as the flyers have said over the last couple of weeks, "not on my dime!" Jeff

I have met verminator through the forums and appreciated his postings but was unable to reach him through pm's So here's some more bad news. as outdoors people we really need to stand beside each other. Here is a link to what is happening in B.C. Then google 49 megawatts, we are about 2 years behind them in what is going on. I know it is a kayak film but it does look at the issue from a fishing/wildlife side too! We have all heard how the wild salmon fishery is in trouble out west, the can make you get a permit to fish for one but they can’t make the effort so the natural spawning watersheds are protected?..... And now….. In Ontario we have had a number micro hydro projects but forward this year, with the latest being on the Petawawa (2). And we all know that a lot of fish spawn in the moving water. Here is a link to Ontario dam sites, and this list is very incomplete. Most sites are on public (yours) land, many existing dams that do not have micro hydro plants are privately owned. And the list does not include any old dam sites were a license is still owned by someone. http://www.owa.ca/pdfs/news/Waterpower_Potential_Nov2005.pdf Dam sites start at page 37 and are broken in to regions and categories. 1: Practical and Probable Projects 2: Practical Projects 3: Remaining sites (not practical) Remember not practical does not mean someone as an individual could apply for that site and make a dam, the other sites can just make more money. I can only speak of the rivers/dams that I know. Example Gull River, Trent Severn System, Norland Ontario, existing dam, has the flow and vertical drop, is not listed for hydro development. Why? The big fish/hunt/enviro guys are virtually non existent in this battle. Look at B.C., Government hiding behind the “green” energy plan. I literally fell into this, I severely broke my tail bone in the middle of February, and when I could begin to sit again “found” the Navigable waters Protection Act . And then all this other “stuff” I like you just like to be out there, and I just want to keep going, and make sure others can to. So help “persuade” the big kids to come out and play, they have been quiet way too long. Jeff McColl http://www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.com/

Is this political or is it about what we love to do? (Answer at the end) Well, we are hours away from an election call, and we can see the lines being drawn in the sand. We have leadership (?) and get tough on criminals on one side, Leadership (?) and carbon tax will help save the earth on the other. And no one, including the general public paying to the other issues! Let alone the right of Canadians to be informed or involved in processes that affect their lives. This is not to argue any of the leaders’ abilities or policies. This is about what we can do as outdoors people to ensure our access rights to Canadian waterways. This is about the right to know about “works” on waterways so that we can act as guardians to help make sure environmental laws and procedures are followed. And this is about if there are inadequacies in proposed legislation that our various outdoor organizations can represent their members to ensure that what ever is decided is balanced, not only for present users, but also for future generations of Canadians. Our goal here is to make sure we (hunt/fish/enviro/paddlers….) are invited to the table for the next round. Not getting invited can not be an option! We have a great weapon and we need to use it now! The internet. We have forums, blogs web sites….., email the big professional people on this, get them to take a stand, they have been way too quiet. (all of them) We/you can make a difference, but every one of us needs to be involved, and yes, it is that simple, we stand together. We have over 30 days to type, copy, and paste, to make others aware of one of the true treasures of Canada (Access rights to Canadian water ways) Do not reply to this posting. If you want everyone to know Just write “bump” If you want to debate; pm me. If you do question your candidates, record the question and their answers, time/date/place/witnesses, we your group rep will need this info when we get to the next round. And post it! If we can get them to start contradicting themselves, we can make it news! I did not setup or invent this site; I am involved in the forums. But I do…. http://www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.com/ Do you? Get your user group to represent your views! Jeff McColl Answer: You already have the answer.