Comment
Time for action, dollars and sense
by Michelle Minnoch

The announcement on Friday at the Lake Simcoe Summit was a good one - Premier McGuinty said that the Lake Simcoe Act would be coming soon to a legislature near you.

Good to know, but there's something that's missing here. Oh yes, there's an election coming this fall.

Between now and October, groups of all kinds should expect to hear an array of promises, pledges and grandiouso announcements such as this, because the happier your voters are closer to election time, the better chances you have of getting back into office.

Unfortunately, that is just a fact of life.

Just as Prime Minister Harper went on about his five key election platforms, voters were enticed by what he had to say and how the man would come through.

Remember that hospital wait times were on that list, and it went away faster than you can say politicianmakingapromise.

The legislation, which would put restrictions upon watershed development, has been needed for some time, and should have been put through around the same time as the Oak Ridges Moraine received its protection.

Although $12 million was earmarked for Lake Simcoe earlier this year, there has been no information made available as to where the money will be spent, and if that money is part of this announcement.

Really, it all comes down to action, dollars and sense!

Action - enough of the verbal diarrhea! As our area has been designated the growth hot spot for Simcoe County, the time to act is now! Before any more decisions are made, environmental protection for the Lake Simcoe watershed must be secured.

Dollars - It will take money to make this work. Money is needed to upgrade waste water facilities, money is needed in areas where people are on septic tanks, money is needed to clean up our shorelines.

Sence - This all comes down to common sence.

To keep the million dollar Lake Simcoe economy going strong, people need to start thinking long term. Maybe after a thought or two, some money is thrown into the mix, and then, well, it will just all make sence.

Residents in the watershed all have the same goal in mind - to protect the jewel in our crown.

No-one wants our Lake to reach the same state and face the same struggles that some of our Great Lakes are encountering.

Besides, isn't Lake Simcoe the greatest of them all.