Fw: Help CPAWS protect the Dumoine Watershed in Quebec and get the Parks Act of our Dreams in Ontario

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April 13 2006

 

 

Help CPAWS protect the Dumoine Watershed in Quebec and get the Parks Act of our Dreams in Ontario

 

 

 

 

In this message:

 

Protect the Dumoine Watershed (Quebec)

Ontario Parks needs your vote

 

Jay’s Great Canadian Canoe QuestFirst stop - Protecting the Dumoine River Watershed

 

To fulfill a long-held personal dream, and in support of CPAWS' work to conserve Canada's great Boreal wilderness, Jay Morrison, dedicated conservationist and CPAWS National Trustee, is attempting to become the first person to paddle solo across Canada from the Atlantic to the Arctic Ocean in a single year. You can follow the journey at www.cpaws.org.

Jay began his adventure on the shores of the St. Lawrence at Les Escoumins, Quebec on April 9, 2006. He'll be paddling and carrying his canoe and gear every step of the historic trade routes established by the Aboriginal peoples and later used by European explorers and fur traders. Traveling through Canada’s vast boreal forest and ending at the mouth of the MacKenzie Delta at the Beaufort Sea, Jay will be logging his adventures on his online journal. Follow his journey and support CPAWS’ conservation work to protect Canada’s boreal wilderness.

Jay will arrive in Quebec City on Thursday, April 13th, where he’ll deliver over 3,000 action cards to the Quebec government in support of protecting the Dumoine River Watershed. You can help! Send a letter to the provincial government of Quebec asking them to protect the last undammed river in southern Quebec.

 

 

Ontario Parks - worst in the country?

 

A park should protect Nature. But making sure it's truly protected can be difficult.

Unfortunately, across Canada, we have a hodge-podge of protection for our parks. Thankfully, when we improve legislation anywhere in the country, it helps us raise the bar everywhere.

One thing is certain: the existing 50 year old Ontario Parks Act is the worst in the country. CPAWS Wildlands League has been working to change that. We are pushing for new legislation that puts nature first (ecological integrity).

So far, we've been able to get a new Parks Act (Bill 11) introduced into the Ontario legislature.

But it needs improvement. There are elements that undermine the ecological protection of parks. For example, the greatest threat to ecological integrity within a park is what happens outside its boundaries. Currently Bill 11 does not protect the park from a bad neighbour. We need to make sure that the Act is as good as its intentions; we need the Act to fully protect the ecological integrity of parks.

Very soon the Ontario government is expecting to introduce Second Reading of Bill 11 Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act.

You can help. Move it from first reading to final ascension. Help us get get the Parks Act of our Dreams. Write Premier McGuinty and the Minister of Natural Resources. Click here to find out more.

 

Jay Morrison paddles in the Ottawa River before beginning his journey.Image: Rick Matthews

 

If you'd like to learn more about CPAWS and the chapter nearest you, please visit www.cpaws.org, or contact us at 1-800-333-9453 (WILD).

 

 

About this message

Thank you for your help in defending our wild forests, waterways and wildlife! For more information on the CPAWS conservation program, please visit www.cpaws.org. If you have any questions or comments, please email us at borealaction

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