The Citizen, 1994-09-07, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1994. PAGE 7.
MNR’s role in ecosystem management
By Janice Becker
Few people have contact with the
Ministry of Natural Resources
unless the new tile drain proposed
for your property is considered a
fish habitat or if your are involved
in some of the rehabilitation pro
jects, such as the Blyth Brook
cleanup, which the MNR supports.
However, the MNR is involved
in projects not often seen by the
public and they are "concerned
about the entire ecosystem and its
management," says MNR biologist
Mike Malhiot.
Because of recent provincial
funding to many ministries, Mr.
Malhiot says, "The MNR is very
much involved in information man
agement."
The agency acts almost as a con
sulting firm; supporting protection
and rehabilitation projects, setting
guidelines to ensure that provincial
and federal laws and regulations
are met and approving plans sub
mitted by developers where the
environment may be affected by
changes.
Mr. Malhiot says, "The MNR is
unable to become physically
involved in many projects. We
depend a great deal on clubs, orga
nizations and individuals who
donated their time and money to
the programs."
The Blyth Brook project was ini
tiated by the Maitland Valley
Anglers, but had financial and time
donations from many organizations
and individuals.
The Community Fisheries In
volvement Program deals with the
care of fish stocks in waterways.
One of the ongoing projects is
spearheaded by the Steelheaders at
the Port Albert Fishway, just north
of Goderich.
The group counts, tags and col
lects eggs from trout as they travel
up the Nine Mile River to spawn in
the spring.
The Steelheaders take part in
activities throughout the year to
help ensure a healthy fish popula
tion.
Duck banding is taking place at
Exeter reeve AMO president
Huron County councillors passed
a resolution of congratulations for
one of their own, Thursday, after
Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle was
acclaimed to the office of president
of the Association of Municipalities
of Ontario (AMO).
'Tve appreciated what the coun
No staff changes at Brussels
the Hullctt Provincial Wildlife
Area.
As the management agency, Mr.
Malhiot says there are strict guide
lines which the MNR must en
force; to be fair and consistent and
create an atmosphere for sustain
able development.
"We want development to be
beneficial to both the developer and
to the environment," he says.
As detailed in a 1987 World
Commission of Environment and
Development plan, sustainable
development is defined as "devel
opment which meets the needs of
the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs."
Since the creation of this policy,
Mr. Malhiot says, "The MNR has
ap-proached management of the
entire ecosystem instead of just soil
or water concerns. It is an interac
tion of living and non-living things
which must be dealt with, not as
individual components."
One of the main purposes of the
MNR is to "ensure the long term
health of the aquatic ecosystems."
By this directive, the Ministry
"protects and rehabilitates degraded
ecosystems and thereby improve
benefits to fisheries."
Mr. Malhiot says, "There are spe
cific guidelines for management.
The Fisheries Act says no one shall
harmfully alter a fish habitat or
deposit destructive materials in
waters frequented by fish."
"The Federal Dept, of fisheries
and Oceans as well as the provin
cial government has policies which
set out to gain fishery resources and
prevent the loss of significant wet
lands," he says.
"The preservation of our fisheries
is important for several reasons.
Fish are an indicator of environ
mental change; a healthy fish envi
ronment is a healthy human en
vironment."
Governmental guidelines says,
"Fish are economically important
because they provide sport fishing,
tourist attractions, bait and com
mercial fishing industries."
cil and staff has done to support me
over the years," Reeve Mickle said
of his years working his way to the
top of the organization. He stressed
that with senior government cut
backs, AMO is more important
than ever to represent the needs of
municipalities.
The policy details several aspects
which make wetlands important
environmentally and socially as
well.
Mr. Malhiot says, "The MNR
hopes to provide information and
education programs to increase
public awareness and knowledge of
ecosystems and functions, thereby
promoting partnerships with inter
est groups to further community
projects."
Blyth briefs
Continued from page 3
Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario,
Zone 2 area.
A resolution from Walkerton
requesting tax exemption for
municipal councillors' remunera
tion to the first $10,000, was sup
ported by council.**♦
Sept. 18-24 has been declared
Legion Week.♦♦♦
The tender of Lavis was the only
one submitted for the completion of
Morris St. The amount of
$84,487.20, including taxes was
"100 per cent in line" with the esti
mate for the project, said Ms
Grubb.
The job is scheduled for comple
tion by mid-October.***
A $25 donation is being given to
June Foran as a pledge for her par
ticipation in the walk-a-dog-a-thon.
County briefs
Continued from page 6
son on his being named a Fellow of
the Canadian Institute of Planners
in a ceremony Aug. 23. Lionel
Wilder, head of the Planning and
Development Committee, attended
the ceremony and commented on
the "glowing" comments made
about Dr. Davidson.
***
Council supported a resolution
from the City of St. Catharines call
ing for a ban on the sale of porno
graphic and hate material in print,
music or video, to persons under 18
years of age.
VB/RUSSELS
VARIETY
GENERAL MEETING NOTICE
The Huron Provincial Progressive Conservative .Association is
holding a General Meeting on
Wednesday, September 21, 1994
at 8:00 p.m.,
in the Auditorium of the Clinton Town Hail.
This meeting has been called to elect delegates to attend the
Ontario Progressive Conservative Annual Meeting in London, being
held November 18 to 20. 1994.
Those interested in being a delegate to this meeting should attend.
For further information please call 235-1443, 524-9546, 357-3518 or
1-800-465-5143.
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Continued from page 1
Frank Braun, who transferred
from Exeter PS, will be teaching
Grade 7/8.
Michael Park, who will take over
the Grade 4/5 class, comes from
Howick Central PS.
Brussels PS has no staff changes
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Most schools report a fairly con
sistent level of enrolment with
some increases due to the begin
ning of the junior kindergarten pro
gram at four of the facilities
(Walton and Grey programs began
in January 1994).
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