Here are two sample letters to government officials. When you have sent your letters, please forward them to leitrim ( at ) greenspace-alliance.ca . Thank you!
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Sample letter to the Ontario Minister of the Environment:
The Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Email: minister (at ) ene.gov.on.ca
Copies to:
Peter Taylor, Water Resources Supervisor,
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Email: peter.g.taylor ( at ) ontario.ca
Gary Roberts, Acting Regional Supervisor,
Investigation and Enforcement Branch
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Email: gary.roberts2 ( at ) ontario.ca
Dear Minister Gerretsen:
Subject : Permits To Take Water – Findlay Creek Village
I am writing to ask that you refuse to grant the Findlay Creek Village developers a Permit to take 17 million litres of water per day in an area adjacent to Leitrim Wetland. One Permit application, for water taking through 2008, is still pending. Another proposal is for the purpose of works which have already largely been completed. Such flaunting of the rules should not be tolerated.
I understand that Dr. Clarke Topp, one of Canada’s foremost soil physicists, has determined that Leitrim Wetland has already been harmed as a result of drainage for the construction of the first part of the subdivision and that he estimates that further drainage will severely affect the water table of the wetland in a matter of months, not years. This is completely unacceptable in light of the critical importance of wetland ecosystems.
Leitrim Wetland is part of the natural heritage of the citizens of Ottawa. It is irreplaceable and must be preserved for today and future generations. I am calling upon you, as Minister of Environment, to ensure that no harm comes to this Provincially Significant Wetland.
Sincerely,
[your name and address]
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Sample letter to the Ontario Minister of Natural Resources:
The Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Email: dcansfield.mpp.co (at) liberal.ola.org
Copies to:
Richard Van Ingen, Fish Habitat Biologist
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Email: Richard.Vaningen ( at ) dfo-mpo.gc.ca
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
Minister of Transport
Email: mintc ( at ) tc.gc.ca
The Honourable John Baird,
Minister of the Environment
Email: John.Baird ( at ) ec.gc.ca
Dear Minister Cansfield:
Subject : Permits To Take Water – Findlay Creek Village
I am writing to ask that you intervene in the review of a proposal by the Findlay Creek Village developers to take 17 million litres of water per day in an area adjacent to Leitrim Wetland. One Permit application, for water taking through 2008, is still pending. A second proposal, which would extend this water taking until 2017, has apparently been withdrawn but is promised to come forward again soon. A third proposal is for works which have already largely be completed.
It is my understanding that Findlay Creek, which runs through Leitrim Wetland, is one of the few remaining cool water streams in Ottawa that is capable of sustaining a trout population. I also understand that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources stocks it with brown trout. Findlay Creek is an important headwater stream in the South Nation River watershed system. I am very concerned that the the works already undertaken and the proposed massive drainage adjacent to Leitrim Wetland being requested will endanger the wetland and Findlay Creek’s habitat for trout and other species.
As well, I understand that Leitrim Wetland is potential habitat for Blanding’s Turtles, a Threatened Species under federal and provincial legislation.
I am calling upon you to ensure that the species that call Leitrim Wetland home are not imperilled by the destruction of their habitat.
Sincerely,
[your name and address]