Appendix B-10 Part 1 Media Publications

Thames has defender | The London Free Press

http://www.lfpress.com/2017/05/23/ndp-mp-introduces-private-members-bill-to-elevate-rivers-status[5/25/2017 1:03:00 PM]

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A cyclist fishes for carp in Gibbons Park. A London MP is trying get theThames River included in the Navigation Protection Act. (MIKE HENSEN,The London Free Press)

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NDP MP introducesprivate member’s billto elevate ThamesRiver status

By Randy Richmond, The London Free PressWednesday, May 24, 2017 8:54:15 EDT AM

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Thames has defender | The London Free Press

http://www.lfpress.com/2017/05/23/ndp-mp-introduces-private-members-bill-to-elevate-rivers-status[5/25/2017 1:03:00 PM]

The Thames River may become important again.

At least as important as Scugog River and Kemptville Creek.

One of only 42 designated Canadian Heritage Rivers and one of the longest inSouthern Ontario, the Thames lost some status — and, potentially,environmental protection — in 2012 under the federal Conservativegovernment.

Now, a London New Democrat MP is trying to get that protection and statusback, and she has initial support from a Liberal colleague.

Irene Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe) has introduced a private member’s billamending the federal Navigation Protection Act to include the Thameswaterway.

The Liberals promised during the 2015 election to return legal protection to theThames and other rivers, but haven’t done a thing, Mathyssen said Tuesday.

“It’s important that this river of ours be protected,” she said. “It is a verysignificant river. If the Liberals won’t protect it, we will.”

London West Liberal MP Kate Young said Tuesday she supports the bill inprinciple, but wants to see what a committee study of the issue, underway forsome time, recommends to the minister of transport before offering 100 percent support.

“I am totally dedicated to improving the health of the Thames River,” Youngsaid. “We can all agree the river is important.”

In 2012, the Conservative government replaced the Navigable WatersProtection Act with the Navigation Protection Act.

In the process, the Thames River and hundreds of other waterways droppedoff the list of navigable waters and, critics said, lost environmental protection.

Conservatives argued at the time that the old legislation was cumbersome andprevented simple work on small creeks and drainage ditches.

The new act protects “navigable waters that support busy commercial orrecreation-related navigation. They are accessible by ports and marinas, andare often close to heavily populated areas,” the federal government websitestates.

Other factors for getting on the list of protected waters included “historicalimportance.”

The Thames River is 273 kilometres long, supports about 150 species of fish,mussels, reptiles and amphibians, provides recreation to boaters — especiallyon the downriver section — and has watershed population of 500,000 people.

By comparison, Kemptville Creek in Eastern Ontario runs 69 km and theScucog River, 85 km.

Neither is on the Canadian Heritage River list, touted on that organization’swebsite as giving “national recognition to Canada’s outstanding rivers” andencouraging “their long-term management to conserve their natural, culturaland recreational values.”

Matthysen spoke about the Thames cultural and natural heritage when sheintroduced Bill C-355 on May 18.

“The Thames River is lined by rich Carolinian forests, tulip trees, paw pawtrees, Kentucky coffee trees, and sassafras. It is home to many species ofwildlife and fish that are rarely found elsewhere in Canada, including theeastern spiny softshell turtle, the Queen snake, the black redhorse, andVirginia possum,” she said.

Thames has defender | The London Free Press

http://www.lfpress.com/2017/05/23/ndp-mp-introduces-private-members-bill-to-elevate-rivers-status[5/25/2017 1:03:00 PM]

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“In addition to a diverse species population, the Thames River has a richcultural history. It has provided a home for people for over 11,000 years. Warshave been fought along its shores, and its fertile land helped bring commercialfarming to Canada.”

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Thames River by the numbers

273: Kilometres long

500,000: People in watershed

160: Species supported

1 of 42: Canadian Heritage Rivers

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Thames has defender | The London Free Press

http://www.lfpress.com/2017/05/23/ndp-mp-introduces-private-members-bill-to-elevate-rivers-status[5/25/2017 1:03:00 PM]

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