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In this message:
Jay’s Great Canadian Canoe Quest
First 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.
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Jay Morrison paddles in the Ottawa River before beginning his
journey.
Image: Rick Matthews
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