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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2008-06-19, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2008. Moving in Huron OPP have confirmed at least one bear sighting in the area recently. Both police and MNR say that still a bear encounter is unlikely. (Joshua Gropp photo) THE EDITOR,The Great Lakes are perhaps thesingle greatest natural resource incentral Canada. The Lakes provide millions with fresh drinking water each and every year; support a thriving commercial and recreational fishery; generate millions of dollars of annual economic trade and commerce; promote tourism that is responsible for countless Canadian jobs which, in turn prompt local economic development; and are home to an array of unique bird, animal, fish and plant species. Despite all of these things, Canadian legislators rarely give the Great Lakes the attention they deserve. As a result of this neglect, our Great Lakes are suffering fromserious threats including: dwindlingfish stocks; low water levels;excessively high bacteria counts; habitat destruction; and invasive species to name only a few. Pressure from international shipping concerns; increasing populations (human and animal) along the lakeshore, inadequate wastewater management, and a range of other culprits all share in the blame. While there are groups such as the International Joint Commission (IJC) and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), who are working to halt and reverse some of the above, they do so without a real and long-term commitment from certain governments. With this in mind, I was verypleased that a regional LiberalPolicy convention, held in Londonon June 7th, took an important first step to righting this historical wrong. As a delegate at the said convention I drafted and presented a formal resolution that called upon federal legislators to take real and decisive action on many of the issues noted above. More specifically, the resolution called upon the Liberal Party of Canada to move forcefully to advance many of the suggestions that have already been made by groups such as the IJC and the GLFC. I was very pleased when the delegates at the convention unanimously endorsed the concept; a feeling that intensified dramatically when the delegates went on to declare the proposal a“priority resolution.”I am truly bolstered by the priorityattention given to this important matter by the Liberal Party and I would hope that the issue of Great Lake’s health will soon move to the forefront of federal policy development for other nationalpolitical parties. The Great Lakeshave been ignored too long – thetime for real action is now. Sincerely, Greg McClinchey Huron-Bruce (Federal) Liberal Candidate Letter to the editorCandidate wants Great Lakes a priority Continued from page 1 with the OPP to monitor any report they may get. People are asked to call the OPP if they spot a bear. However, the OPP has brought the MNR in for help with information they may not be equipped to detect. For instance, after an initial report of a bear on the beach in Bayfield, the MNR was brought in to examine paw prints and found the report to be inconclusive, saying the paw prints could have easily belonged to a dog. If no human is in danger, the OPP would call in the MNR to attempt a live trap or perhaps to tranquilize the bear and return it to its natural habitat. However, if there is any threat to human safety, OPP officers have been instructed to dispatch the bear. “We work with the MNR on these types of calls,” Van Mierlo said. “In a worst case scenario, if we have a public safety situation, we will dispatch the bear, but that’s a last- ditch effort. We don’t want to destroy the animal, and as we zero in, if the MNR will be able to do it safely, they will trap the bear and take it back up where it belongs. One-way trip.” However, both agree that it is likely that once a food source is no longer readily available, the bear or bears will return to their natural habitat on their own. The MNR has a section of its website dedicated to bear safety in Ontario. One of the more comforting facts is that black bears rarely attack humans. The site says since the early 1900s, there have been under 70 deaths as a result of black bears in North America. The site, www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/ Business/Bearwise/ is where both the MNR and the OPP suggest obtaining information. There are basic facts, safety tips for both living in and visiting bear country and resources for students and teachers as well as the general public. The OPP are asking residents to call 911 if they spot a bear in an immediately dangerous situation. However, if the situation is non- emergent call the MNR’s bear hotline at 1-866-514-BEAR (2327). OPP work with MNR Kick Off Events • Friday, June 20, Dance and Festive Gardens, Dungannon Fair Grounds, featuring tributes to Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, with special guest tribute to Gretchen Wilson. • Saturday, June 21, Dungannon Truck/Tractor Pull, Dungannon Fair Grounds June 25 - June 29 Kinsmen Men’s & Ladies’ Slo-Pitch Tournament Festive Gardens and Food Booths Thursday, June 26 Pre-Teen Dance, with DJ Joe Carter, 8 to 11 p.m., Lucknow Legion June 27 - June 28 Kinettes Co-ed U10 & U12 Soccer Tournament Friday, June 27 Official Book Launch - Lucknow - The Place We Call Home at Reunion Cenral Kinsmen Dance/Concert: Trews with opening act Tupelo Honey, High school age and up, $20 in advance, $25 at door Saturday, June 28 Strawberry Pancake Breakfast, Kinettes Vendor & Crafters Market, Tiny Tots Children’s Village Midway, Children’s Play Area & Crafts, Clowns who will be “clowning around” throughout the day, Muskoka Wildlife Centre Show , Children’s Show - Smudge Fundaes, 11th Annual Classic Car/Truck Show, FREE Swimming, Dunk Tank at soccer fields, LCPS Grade 8 Food Booth at soccer fields Kinsmen Dance/Concert:Trooper with opening act Nuthin’ Fancy Age of majority. $20 in advance, $25 at door Sunday, June 29 All Denomination Community Church Service at Lucknow Presbyterian Church, Community Picnic, Strawberry Shortcake Dress Up, Lucknow Legion Pipe Band, Strawberry Eating Contest, FREE Swimming, Ladies’ Slo-Pitch Championship Game at 2:15 p.m. Men’s Slo-Pitch Championship Game at 2:15 p.m. Lucknow Pharmasave McDonagh Insurance Brokers Ltd. SINCE 1931 Knechtel’s Your Hometown Advantage SPONSORS Snobelen Farms, Lucknow Auto Parts, MacKenzie and McCreath, Crawford, Mill and Davies, Lucknow Co- op, Dale Gilchrist, Protekta, Hamilton Fuels, Lucknow Chamber of Commerce, Hometown Custom Builder, Carl Sloetjes - FM Windows, Dungannon Kitchens, Montgomery Motors, Silver Lake Tent and Trailer Park, Bank of Montreal, West Wawanosh Insurance, Cameron Refrigeration, Royal Bank, Fisherman’s Cove, Ontario Power Generation, Silver Spring Farms, Lucknow Kinettes, Porters, Home Hardware, Morrison Berries, Cover-All Buildings, Langside Tractor, Micro Age Basics, PE Inglis Holdings, Donald Andrew, Paul Zinn, Henderson Rona, Grazier Transport, Helm Welding, Smyth Welding, Lucknow Sentinel, McPyatt Advertising, Cross Country Equipment, Shear Design JUNE 20 TO JUNE 29 For complete event and ticket information see www.strawberrysummerfest.com Tractor Pull - Adults $15, Children 5-12 $5, Preschoolers FREE • Pro Stock • Farm Modified • Super Farm • Sanctioned Farm Stock • Two & Four Wheel Drive Trucks •Single and multi engines Festive gardens 3 to 11 p.m. Rain Date: Sunday, June 22, at noon FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL STEVE 519-529-7108 OR DAVE 519-525-3354 OR VISIT www.dungannontractorpull.ca SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 3:30 P.M. Dungannon Fairgrounds Event Sponsors The Bull 94.5 A Channel Edward Fuels Lloyd Collins Construction 101.7 The One Epcor Hurontel Steelback Dungannon Agricultural Society * Friday, June 20 - Tributes to Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Gretchen Wilson For more info go to web site • Age of Majority • Tickets $10 For info or tickets call Jodie 519-524-9878 THE EDITOR, While walking the alley behind the Blyth Memorial Hall, I was appalled to find a dumpster of books leftover from the recent theatre book sale. Many of these books were in good condition and still readable. I would suggest to the co- ordinators of this event that next year the unsold books be donated to the local schools the libraries of which, are somewhat lacking, or to a charity that promotes literacy in Ontario, instead of being wastefully thrown away. Alexander Stevenson. Letter to the editor Writer appalled Flying in It was the annual fly-in weekend at the Armstrong Aerodome outside Brussels. Pientenpol enthusiasts converge each year to socialize and cruise the skies. (Vicky Bremner photo) Slip! on clothing Slop! on sunscreen SPF 15 or higher Slap! on a hat For more information call the Canadian Cancer Society at 1 888 939-3333 or take our SunSense quiz at www.cancer.ca.