Implementation

Chapter 8: Implementation

Context

This Plan would affect decisions and defines a wide range of actions that would help to protect and improve the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed. For the Plan to be implemented successfully, ongoing coordination and collaboration amongst many organizations and communities is required.

This chapter outlines the overarching policies and approaches that would guide the implementation of the policies described in the preceding chapters. These include:

• prioritizing actions, coordinating analyses, developing targets, and managing on a multi-scale sub-watershed basis;
• working with existing stewardship partners and enhancing opportunities for community-wide involvement and participation;
• using research, monitoring and reporting to ensure the Plan is based on best available science;
• working together in a coordinated and collaborative fashion with all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, First Nations and Métis communities, the private sector, and citizens;
• considering opportunities to engage First Nations and Métis communities at all stages of Plan implementation and developing engagement processes in collaboration with First Nations and Métis community partners;
• developing clear fiscal tools and financial resources to support implementation of the Plan; and
• embracing an adaptive management approach and amending the Plan over time.

Each of these is discussed in more detail below.

Subwatershed Evaluations

Managing on a watershed basis makes sense because watersheds are ecologically-relevant boundaries for managing human activities and resources. Watersheds and subwatersheds can be defined at various scales depending on environmental considerations and specific management requirements. For instance, some policies and management actions may apply across an entire watershed, whereas others may be specific to the needs and priorities of a particular subwatershed.

Subwatershed evaluations will reflect the goals, objectives and targets of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan and will be tailored to subwatershed needs and local issues. These evaluations will provide more detailed guidance for area-specific hydrologic and natural heritage resource planning and management.

A subwatershed approach will also help determine and define priority areas within the Lake Simcoe watershed, which may need immediate action. This subwatershed approach will be critical to prioritizing initial actions, developing focused action plans, monitoring and evaluating results to ensure plans are updated to reflect new science, information and experience with implementation.

8.1-SA: Within one year of the date the Plan comes into effect, the MOE and LSRCA in collaboration with other ministries, the First Nations and Métis communities, watershed municipalities, the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee and the Lake Simcoe Science Committee will develop guidelines to provide direction on:

1. identifying sub-lake areas and subwatersheds of the Lake Simcoe watershed and determining which sub-lake areas and subwatersheds are of priority;
2. preparing subwatershed evaluations including, where appropriate, developing subwatershed-specific targets and recommending actions that need to be taken within subwatersheds in relation to:
   1. the phosphorus reduction strategy (Chapter 4),
   2. stormwater management master plans, including consideration of the amount of impervious surfaces within subwatersheds (Chapter 4),
   3. water budgets (Chapter 5),
   4. instream flow regime targets (Chapter 5),
   5. preventing invasive species and mitigating the impacts of existing invasive species (Chapter 7),
   6. natural heritage restoration and enhancement (Chapter 6),
   7. increasing public access (Chapter 7), and
   8. climate change impacts and adaptation (Chapter 7);
3. monitoring and reporting in relation to subwatershed targets that may be established; and
4. consultation to be undertaken during the preparation of the subwatershed evaluations.

8.2-SA: In developing the guidance outlined in 8.1, the partners identified above will develop approaches to undertake the subwatershed evaluations in a way that builds upon and integrates with source protection plans required under the Clean Water Act, 2006, as well as relevant work of the LSRCA and watershed municipalities.

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8.3-SA: Within five years of the date the Plan comes into effect, the LSRCA in partnership with municipalities and in collaboration with the MOE, MNR, and MAFRA will develop and complete subwatershed evaluations for priority subwatersheds.

8.4-DP: Municipal official plans shall be amended to ensure that they are consistent with the recommendations of the subwatershed evaluations.

Stewardship, Education and Outreach

In the Lake Simcoe watershed, it is recognized that all segments of the community are responsible for environmental impacts on the Lake, and that protection of the lake and its watershed is a shared responsibility.

Stewardship, education and outreach are essential tools that will assist in achieving the Plan’s objectives. They provide mechanisms for connecting directly with rural, agricultural, urban and shoreline residents, governments, industries and business interests in the watershed. The tools of stewardship help us to better understand our cumulative influences on the Lake Simcoe watershed, and encourage everyone to voluntarily engage in responsible and sustainable actions.

The scientific results of stewardship can be a challenge to measure accurately, but collective, voluntary actions speak to the human element of the Plan’s priorities and polices requiring action and effort, or changes in behaviour, including those that affect aquatic life, water quality, water quantity, shorelines and natural heritage, and other threats (e.g., invasive species and climate change) and activities. Building on the Plan’s adaptive management approach, the stewardship policies will build on past efforts and will promote priority actions, while focusing on partnerships and collaboration, and will evolve over time as more is learned, accomplishments are made, and new priorities emerge.

Stewardship programs will support positive actions. They help to address specific threats facing the Lake Simcoe watershed and encourage a strong land and water ethic. Education and outreach programs connect the environmental, economic, social and scientific aspects of stewardship and help to improve community acceptance and encourage positive changes in people’s behaviour. They can include demonstration projects that showcase innovative approaches and the beneficial results of stewardship actions, and pilot projects to test and support innovations in sector-specific technology. Community-based monitoring programs can help to increase citizen awareness and involvement while contributing to improved knowledge of the watershed and its ecological conditions.

The extent to which stewardship organizations and programs can make a difference is enhanced when they partner in areas of mutual interest. Collaboration and networking between community partners, governments, industries, landowners and residents can help to identify watershed-wide stewardship priorities, reduce duplication, enhance program delivery and build a strong and holistic stewardship approach to the entire Lake Simcoe watershed community. The Plan presents three main areas in which stewardship, education and outreach activities would be concentrated:

1. Lake Simcoe Stewardship Network/Alliance

   The province is committed to supporting the establishment of a Lake Simcoe Stewardship Network/Alliance that will have broad representation from local and regional community groups, governments, First Nations and Métis communities, the LSRCA, businesses and industries, and members of the agricultural, rural, and urban communities. The Network/ Alliance will offer a community-based partnership forum for these organizations and partners to network, build capacity, coordinate activities and leverage additional resources for stewardship programs and activities that will help to achieve the environmental protection and restoration objectives of the Plan. As a body, it will strive to:

   • provide a forum to help identify stewardship priorities and coordinate efforts;
   • facilitate regular information sharing throughout the watershed;
   • enhance collaboration, technology transfer, accountability and reporting;
   • increase efficiencies in cost-sharing, communication and co-marketing while recognizing individual partner roles, strengths and successes;
   • offer input into subwatershed stewardship planning and programming;
   • enhance stewardship opportunities in all sectors of the watershed community; and
   • champion key new initiatives, technologies and best management practices, including new social marketing initiatives; urban and youth outreach.

2. Agricultural Stewardship

   Farmers have a well established history of stewardship, and will continue to build on past efforts to implement best management practices while adapting and innovating as new information becomes available. In the Lake Simcoe watershed, agricultural lands, particularly polders such as the Holland Marsh, encompass some of the most productive agricultural areas in the province. With their proximity to large urban markets, the watershed’s agricultural lands represent essential food production areas.

   To date, the Federal-Provincial Environmental Farm Plan Program (administered by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture on behalf of the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition) has established a comprehensive framework for education and engagement of agricultural producers in voluntary best management practices. These efforts have been supported and augmented by numerous others, including the LSRCA (e.g. the Landowner Environmental Assistance Program), Ontario Stewardship, and many community-based groups. The Plan will build on these successes.

   To increase and promote stewardship actions that help to reduce environmental risks associated with raising livestock and growing crops in the Lake Simcoe watershed, programs to help farmers with the cost of implementing measures will be encouraged. Some examples of best management practices that will continue to be encouraged include restricting livestock access to watercourses; establishing vegetated buffers along lake and tributary shorelines; improving on-farm storage and handling of petroleum products, pesticides, manure and fertilizer; modifying tillage practices to reduce soil erosion and run off; and using nutrients, such as phosphorus more effectively.

   To take action in priority areas, enhanced cost-share opportunities will be developed with community partners, and provincial and federal agencies. The Plan provides opportunities for technical knowledge transfer through demonstration projects and pilots; supports innovative best management practice approaches; and fosters science and performance evaluation. It is the intent of the Province to provide enhanced funding to leverage the existing Environmental Farm Plan Program and address priority issues in the watershed. In addition, the government will collaborate with other funding and stewardship programs in the watershed to ensure that efficiencies are realized and improved outcomes are delivered.

3. Stewardship for Non-Agricultural Landowners, Residents and the Broader Community

   For many years throughout rural and urban areas of the watershed, numerous organizations, community groups and individuals have been actively engaged in environmental restoration activities, along with stewardship and education programs to protect and improve the health and natural heritage of Lake Simcoe and its watershed.

   The Plan supports the development of a Community Stewardship Program that will parallel the cost-shared educational and incentive-based approach of the Environmental Farm Plan Program, and builds on existing community-wide programs and activities. The initial goal is to encourage non-farm landowners and residents in rural and urban areas of the watershed to engage in activities that protect and improve water quality and quantity, aquatic habitat, natural heritage features and prevent or respond to invasive species. The program will focus on a range of potential actions, from simple behavioural changes to on-the-ground restoration projects. The program will enhance partnerships among existing stewardship organizations, with a view to streamlining and increasing program accessibility and funding for non-farm landowners and residents.

   As the program evolves, its focus will extend to stewardship, education and outreach to the urban public and recreational and industrial sectors. Community-based monitoring and innovations will offer all citizens an opportunity to participate in protecting the lake and its watershed. In particular, educational programs that engage youth in stewardship activities will be strongly encouraged.

   The goal of the following stewardship policies is to promote voluntary actions that improve watershed conditions. Priorities and specific actions will be reported, reviewed and adapted over time as needed to support ongoing implementation of the Plan.

8.5-SA: Within one year of the date the Plan comes into effect, the MNR and other ministries, in collaboration with the First Nations and Métis communities, municipalities, the LSRCA, and other stewardship partners, will establish a broad-based, watershed-wide stewardship network/alliance. The network/alliance will strengthen the strategic focus of stewardship programs and activities and enhance collaboration among landowners, agencies, industry, and citizen/community organizations to support implementation of the Plan.

8.6-SA: The MNR and the MAFRA, in collaboration with municipalities, the LSRCA, the First Nations and Métis communities, and other stewardship partners, will develop a structured educational and incentive-based stewardship program for rural and urban (non-farm) landowners in the watershed to promote the adoption of best management practices that support implementation of the Plan.

8.7-SA: The MAFRA, in consultation with the MNR, the LSRCA and agricultural organizations, will continue to develop and implement broad-based agri-environmental stewardship programs to promote the adoption of best management practices to support Plan priorities, including phosphorus load reduction, and riparian, soil and water management.

8.8-SA: The MAFRA, in consultation with the MNR, the LSRCA and other agricultural organizations, will promote the development and implementation of best management practices, demonstration and pilot projects focused on innovation and technology advancement as a means of supporting agricultural stewardship activities.

8.9-SA: Within three years of the date the Plan takes effect, and based on the results of other agri-environmental stewardship initiatives and scientific work completed in the watershed, the MAFRA and its stewardship partners will reassess stewardship programming, and modify as necessary, to address priority needs in the watershed.

8.10-SA: Based on the findings of the study identified in policy 4.16, 4.17, the MAFRA and its stewardship partners, in consultation with key stakeholders, will determine the need for additional or modified stewardship and best management practice measures to reduce phosphorus loadings and wind-borne erosion from agricultural activities in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

8.11-SA: The MOE, in consultation with industries, businesses, the development community, municipalities and other community organizations, will review operational, building and development standards and best management practices. Innovative design elements, for example, site-level storm water controls such as rain barrels or permeable pavements, and other site-specific options for stewardship will be encouraged.

Research, Monitoring and Reporting

To remain effective over time, the Plan must be adaptive to what is learned from ongoing scientific research and monitoring in the watershed. This Plan provides for a number of key research and monitoring actions. Collectively, these actions will help to improve our understanding of how the Lake Simcoe watershed functions and increase our ability to detect changes in the natural environment. Scientific research and monitoring will also inform the adaptive management approach used in the Plan by providing the information necessary to review and evaluate the effectiveness of Plan policies and targets.

The Plan adopts a precautionary approach and prescribes action using the best available scientific information with the understanding that there are current gaps in our knowledge of the lake and its watershed. To begin to address these knowledge gaps and to reduce the uncertainty around current information, the Plan provides for research initiatives that will cover a range of key Lake Simcoe watershed issues, including water quality and quantity, aquatic life and habitat, invasive species and climate change. These research initiatives will inform the implementation of current policies and help direct future amendments to the Plan. Research will be coordinated by the MOE, the MNR and the LSRCA, in collaboration with the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee, the Lake Simcoe Science Committee, the First Nations and Métis communities and other relevant agencies.

Key research initiatives in the Plan include:

• conducting research projects on the aquatic communities of Lake Simcoe and its tributaries (see Chapter 3 Aquatic Life);
• promoting, conducting and supporting scientific water quality research projects (see Chapter 4 Water Quality);
• completing Tier 2 water budgets for all stressed subwatersheds (see Chapter 5 Water Quantity);
• developing and implementing a monitoring program and support research, in relation to the targets and indicators associated with natural heritage and hydrologic features and areas (see Chapter 6 Shorelines and Natural Heritage);
• identifying opportunities for research funding and partnerships that will help improve knowledge related to the impact and control of invasive species and specific study initiatives to evaluate invasive species pathways and social marketing methods (see Chapter 7 Newly Introduced Invasive Species);
• identifying areas for research on the impact of climate change in the watershed (see Chapter 7 Climate Change);
• preparing a comprehensive recreation strategy for Lake Simcoe (see Chapter 7 Recreational Activities);
• completing subwatershed evaluations for priority subwatersheds (see Chapter 8 Subwatershed Evaluations);
• promoting the development of best management practices demonstration and pilot projects focused on innovation and technology advancement as a means of supporting agricultural stewardship (see Chapter 8 Stewardship); and
• reviewing operational, building and development measures, including best management practices (see Chapter 8 Stewardship).

The partners will also collaborate to design and implement a comprehensive monitoring strategy for the Lake Simcoe watershed. The Plan also provides for the development of new, or the enhancement of existing monitoring programs needed to fill current monitoring gaps. A comprehensive coordination strategy will help to ensure that required data are available in a suitable format and that monitoring efforts are not being duplicated.

The results of the above-mentioned scientific research and monitoring initiatives will be reported periodically by the MOE and the partner ministries. At least once every five years, the MOE in partnership with other ministries will produce a report that describes the results of monitoring programs as well as the extent to which the objectives of the Plan are being achieved.

Also, when requested by the Minister, the Lake Simcoe Science Committee may provide advice on the design and implementation of monitoring programs.

The MOE, in partnership with other ministries, will also monitor the implementation of the Plan, including reviewing the performance of the Plan’s policies concurrent with any review of this Plan.

8.12-SA: Every two years, the MOE, MNR, MAFRA and the LSRCA will organize an event or events that focus on scientific monitoring and research related to the protection of the ecological health of Lake Simcoe and its watershed. The event will facilitate the transfer of scientific information and knowledge and coordinate monitoring and research activities among watershed partners to promote the efficient use of resources and funds.

Coordination, Public Engagement and Aboriginal Community Engagement

In designing the proposed coordination framework, the Province considered what it heard in response to its March 2008 discussion paper, as well as the earlier recommendations of the LSEMS Steering Committee and Working Group’s 2007 recommendations on governance. Input was also received from the Lake Simcoe Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

Primary among the advice given was that a new decision-making body should not be created. There was also considerable support for a greater role for community partners in the protection of Lake Simcoe, in recognition of the fact that no one agency can do everything that needs to be done. Involvement of community partners in implementation would also provide opportunities for greater collaboration and information sharing as well as ensure a higher degree of transparency. In addition, community partners and the public indicated that they supported a leadership role for the Province. The proposed coordination framework is consistent with the advice that was received.

Provincial Leadership:

The Province will play a lead role in developing and coordinating implementation of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008, and the Plan.

The MOE has established a new Lake Simcoe Project team for this purpose. One of its primary functions is to facilitate the establishment of collaborative partnerships for implementation, with opportunities for public involvement. Engaging First Nations and Métis communities, municipalities, the public and with all stakeholders is an integral part of implementing the Plan. Another key function of the project team is to provide initial organizational support to two new committees, the Lake Simcoe Science Committee and the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee. In addition there are a number of policies and programs that will be led by the Project team and/or the other ministry partners.

The MOE Lake Simcoe Project team will be the primary point of public contact for initial implementation of the Plan. However, it should be noted, the interests of the Province are also represented and supported by the MOE District and field offices in Barrie and Newmarket, MNR District offices in Midhurst and Aurora, the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Assessment Unit in Sutton and an MAFRA field office in Midhurst, all located within the watershed. In addition, numerous other corporate ministry units (e.g., aboriginal affairs, science, research, monitoring, policy, programs, standards, approvals, compliance and enforcement) from various ministries support the ongoing implementation of the Plan.

How Will The Public Be Assured That the Plan Is Being Implemented?

For each policy in the Plan, one or more public bodies are ultimately responsible for its implementation. The Minister of Environment, however, is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the Plan is being implemented and determining whether the Plan is achieving its objectives. To measure progress toward implementation, the Minister is required by the legislation to provide progress reports that describe the results of implementation of the Plan and the extent to which the objectives of the Plan are being achieved. These reports will be posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry. The Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee also provides advice on implementation and whether the Plan is meeting its objectives. Embracing an adaptive management approach, the Plan will be amended if necessary to reflect areas for improving enforcement capabilities and to ensure policies are implemented appropriately.

Implementation of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan will build on the protections for the Lake Simcoe watershed that are provided by other provincial plans, and provincial legislation, including the Clean Water Act, 2006 the Conservation Authorities Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act and the Planning Act. The intent of the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008 is to ensure consistent land use and environmental policies are applied throughout the Lake Simcoe watershed, building on existing protections and avoiding duplication wherever possible.

Advisory Committees under Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008

The Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008 establishes two advisory committees: the Lake Simcoe Science Committee and, the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee.

Under the Act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints the members of the committees after considering recommendations of the Minister.

The functions of these advisory committees, as set out in the Act, are described below. The Minister is also authorized to specify additional functions for each advisory committee.

1. Lake Simcoe Science Committee

   The Lake Simcoe Science Committee, composed of scientific experts in watershed protection issues, is responsible for reviewing the environmental conditions of the watershed and to advise on the:

   • ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed;
   • current and potential significant threats to the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed and potential strategies to deal with these threats;
   • scientific research that is needed to support the implementation of the Plan; and
   • When requested by the Minister to provide advice on:
     • design and implementation of monitoring programs to monitor whether the Plan is meeting its objectives;
     • proposed amendments to the plan; and
     • proposed regulations made under the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008 and under subsection 75(1.7) of the Ontario Water Resources Act.

   This committee could also be asked by the Minister to assess whether a proposed amendment to the Plan is consistent with the precautionary principle and, if not, whether the proposed amendment should be modified to achieve consistency. While the Act does not specify criteria for membership on the Lake Simcoe Science Committee, members for the committee will be selected based on their relevant expertise.

2. Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee

   The functions of the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee includes, among others:

   • providing advice to the Minister on the implementation of the Plan;
   • providing advice to the Minister on any issues or problems related to the implementation of the Plan;
   • providing advice to the Minister on the types of measures that could be taken to deal with the threats to the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe Watershed, identified by the Lake Simcoe Science Committee, including policies that could be included in the Plan, or regulations that could be made under an Act; and
   • assisting the Minister and other public bodies to monitor progress on the implementation of the Plan.

   Under the Act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints the members of the committee after considering recommendations of the Minister.

   The Act specifies that the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee be comprised of representatives drawn from across the watershed including persons representing municipalities, Aboriginal communities, the LSRCA, the Province, the agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors of the watershed’s economy including small businesses, interest groups, environmental organizations, and the public.

3. Operation of Committees

   Public bodies responsible for implementing SA (strategic action) policies set out in the Plan would be responsible for working with the chair of each committee to ensure that, where appropriate, the advice of the committees is obtained in a timely manner and to provide progress updates from time to time. In relation to SA policies that do not have a specified timeframe, lead public bodies will work through the coordinating committee to establish an implementation strategy for those policies. The Minister may set the practices and procedures of the committees.

   It is recognized that the committees may need additional support. For example, a working group currently exists with members from agencies and ministries that coordinates water quality monitoring in the watershed. Building on these alliances amongst organizations that conduct these functions in the watershed would ensure effective collaboration and efficient use of resources. Benefits from these alliances include improved information management, communications, public education, outreach, research, stewardship and monitoring.

   Another example of a critical alliance to foster between the advisory committees and key organizations includes that with the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee and the proposed Lake Simcoe stewardship network/alliance, to be established as per Policy 8.5.

In 2007, the MNR created a Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee to promote, implement and communicate fisheries stewardship initiatives and to provide advice and recommendations on topics related to fisheries management on Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching and their watersheds. Membership on the committee represents the diverse interests in the fishery resources of Lake Simcoe.

Public Engagement

The Plan will be informed by the best available science and the advice of those who live, work, invest and play in the Lake Simcoe watershed as they plan for a healthy future for Lake Simcoe. Collaboration with the public, Aboriginal communities and community partners throughout plan implementation, reviews and amendments will be important to guide the implementation of the Plan.

Numerous policies will require the engagement and consultation of public, First Nations and Métis communities, and community partners including, the development of the Phosphorus Reduction Strategy; the development of a shoreline regulation and shoreline management strategy; and the development of a climate change adaptation strategy for the watershed.

The Act also requires that significant amendments to the Plan be posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry allowing the public to comment on them and provide critical advice to the government.

Aboriginal Community Engagement

The Plan recognizes the contributions made by First Nations and Métis communities to protect the health of the lake and the special relationship that the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation have with Lake Simcoe. The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation have been an active participant in the LSEMS for many years. The Plan anticipates that Aboriginal communities will maintain an active interest and participation with the design, development and implementation of protection initiatives and the Plan provides for ongoing opportunities for Aboriginal communities with cultural, heritage or economic links to Lake Simcoe to continue to collaborate on the design, development and implementation of programs and initiatives to protect the lake.

Numerous policies in the Plan recognize the need and desire for key implementing bodies to actively engage Aboriginal communities. The Province is committed to ensuring that Aboriginal communities have the necessary support to respond to and participate in engagement opportunities related to the design and development of Lake Simcoe protection initiatives.

Financing Strategy

All stakeholders have recognized that sustained funding is needed to implement the Plan. Given the costs of implementation, the Plan incorporates innovative funding mechanisms, while relying on cost sharing, partnerships and building on existing program funding.

The Plan reflects the following principles with respect to financing:

• diverse sources will be considered to reduce dependence on a single source;
• innovative financing tools will be promoted (i.e. public and private sector partnerships, water quality trading, etc.);
• the priorities of the Plan must be reflected in financing approaches;
• environmental, economic and social sustainability will be considered;
• the role of municipalities, including continued responsibility for water and wastewater services is recognized;
• flexibility is needed to deal with emerging commitments and priorities over time;
• the evaluation of the options will take risk into consideration; and
• financing strategies must be clearly understood by the public.

Although there are significant costs associated with implementing the Plan, there are also tremendous ecological and economic benefits. A recent study shows that the benefits provided by the Lake Simcoe watershed ecosystem are, at a minimum, worth $975 million per year². These benefits include carbon storage, water quality, flood control, waste treatment, clean air, as well as tourism and recreational opportunities.

Implementation of the Plan will be based on funding priority actions which are most critical to achieving the targets and objectives set out in the Plan. Wherever possible, cost-effective solutions will be employed. It is recognized that not everything can be done at once and that implementation will need to be phased-in over several years. Building on an adaptive management approach, actions will have built-in flexibility with a range of key partners and financing mechanisms identified.

Partnership Approach to Financing Implementation of the Plan

The funding approach to support the implementation of the Plan is based on partnerships, where no one organization will have to bear the burden of all costs. The Plan recognizes opportunities within existing programs, which already have committed funding and resources to support actions. Infrastructure requirements, such as stormwater management and sewage treatment upgrades, may be funded through cost-shared programs.

Partners providing either financial or human resources include:

• The Province, which has taken a leadership role in terms of both coordinating Plan implementation and funding key actions that are needed to deliver on policies in the Plan. The Province’s operating funding commitment will focus primarily on supporting the operational requirements of Plan implementation, including:
  • assisting farmers and rural landowners to manage non-point phosphorus by encouraging best management practices that reduce environmental impacts;
  • supporting scientific research and monitoring, including promoting and conducting scientific water quality research projects, developing the phosphorus reduction strategy and developing and implementing a monitoring program; and
  • coordinating the implementation of the Plan including supporting the two committees and dedicating staff in the Lake Simcoe Project team.
• The federal government, which has put in place the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund which provides support to priority projects aimed at reducing phosphorus, rehabilitate habitats to achieve nutrient reductions, and enhance research and monitoring capacity deemed essential for the restoration of Lake Simcoe and its watershed.
• Municipalities, which will continue to be responsible for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades and investments.
• Aboriginal communities, which provide conservation efforts and actions in the watershed.
• The LSRCA, who’s ongoing funding commitment supports the protection of natural resources in the Lake Simcoe watershed through partnerships with the community and government.
• The work of environmental NGOs throughout the watershed which promote the protection, conservation and restoration of the watershed.
• Contributions of volunteers, who have in the past and will continue to dedicate their time and resources to protecting and restoring the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed.
• Stewardship, best management practices and actions being promoted and implemented by the development community, private industry and the agricultural sector.

Moving Forward

The Plan promotes innovative approaches such as water quality trading. The Province will conduct a feasibility study to serve as a basis for moving forward with a regulation to establish a water quality trading program in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Water quality trading is a market-based approach that sets a limit on pollutants and allows those that have a high abatement cost to fund activities that reduce pollutants in other areas of the watershed at a lower cost. In the end, the same or a greater amount of pollution reduction is achieved at a lower total cost. Water quality trading has been successfully implemented in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut and parts of Ontario to address excessive nutrient loadings.

As various partners take responsibility for implementing policies, funding sources and the actual costs of implementation will become clearer. As the Plan is implemented, the Province will amend the Plan and the financing strategy to include these details.

Funding sources and priority of actions for the implementation of the Plan will be further informed by the work and advice of the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee and the technical and scientific advice of the Lake Simcoe Science Committee.

The Plan includes targets and timeframes for action. The public can refer to these to gain a better understanding of how funding for actions is being employed. Public reporting will also provide a critical link for communicating how funds are being spent to protect and restore the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Plan Amendments

Recognizing that this Plan is intended to adapt to new science and new information, provision is provided within the Act to amend the Plan. A proposal to amend this Plan could arise in many ways including:

• as a result of the Plan review that is to take place at minimum every ten years,
• in response to monitoring reports, and
• in response to advice from the Lake Simcoe Coordinating Committee or the Lake Simcoe Science Committee.

The Act requires that when a Plan amendment is proposed, that it be posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights registry and that notice be provided. This will allow for municipalities, First Nations and Métis communities, stakeholders and the public to be involved in changes to the Plan and will give the government opportunity to consider their critical advice.

To facilitate awareness and implementation of amendments, to the extent practical, the MOE will attempt to make or propose amendments to this Plan such that several amendments take place at once, not individually or in close succession.

8.13: Pursuant to paragraph 10 of subsection 5 (2) of the Act, the following types of Plan amendments may be approved by the Minister of the Environment:

• Amendments to SA policies and M policies (policies that relate to strategic actions and policies that relate to monitoring);
• Amendments to HR policies (policies that require applicable decisions to have regard to the policy);
• Amendments to DP policies (policies that require applicable decisions to conform to the policy), but only for the following purposes:
  1. to clarify the meaning of a policy,
  2. to ensure a policy is consistent or does not conflict with other policies in the Plan or with another provincial plan or the PPS,
  3. to ensure a policy is consistent with or does not conflict with an assessment report and source protection plan submitted under the Clean Water Act, 2006 for the Lake Simcoe and Couchiching/Black River Source Protection Area; and
• Altering the other content of the Plan described in subsection 5 (1) of the Act, including the financial strategy, an indicator or a definition, but does not include:
  1. a target under paragraph 4 of subsection 5 (2) of the Act,
  2. a description of the areas to which regulations made under section 26 may apply, specified under paragraph 10 of subsection 5 (2), and
  3. a policy under paragraph 10 of subsection 5 (2) of the Act that describes the type of amendments to the Plan that the Minister is authorized to approve.

For greater certainty, the Minister’s authority to approve an amendment to the content of the Plan that is specified in this provision includes the authority to approve the removal or addition to that content.

The Minister may also cause an error in the Plan of a clerical, typographical or grammatical nature to be corrected.