2012

Latest News...

Correct summer event dates

Our apologies but there were some discrepancies on dates for summer events in our winter newsletter.

The correct dates are as follows:

Rock Bass Derby, Saturday, July 7, 10 am, Paudash Lake Marina

AGM, Saturday, July 21, 10 am, Cardiff Community Centre

Regatta, Saturday, Aug 4 (rain date Aug. 5), North Bay Beach, Noon 

See you all there!

The Paudash Lake Conservation Association now has a Facebook page. Use it to post photos, chat with other cottagers and residents on the lake: 

The provincial elections are Oct. 6. If you own multiple properties, you can vote EITHER at your permanent residence OR at your seasonal residence. And you don't have to wait until Election Day. Advance polls are open now until Sept. 30. 

For more information and to see a list of election issues relevant to waterfront property owners, visit the FOCA link here: http://www.foca.on.ca/Hot_Topics

Rock Bass Derby 2011

Check out the photos here

The Ministry of Natural Resources is planning to do some fisheries assessment work at the beginning of July on Paudash Lake to check on the health of our fish and to look for any invasive species such as zebra mussels, spiny water fleas and round gobies.

If you're on a lake that is being monitored and see marked buoys, please don’t lift the nets or buoys, and avoid recreational activities between and around the buoys. All nets will be clearly marked.

Please read the documents below for more info.

2011 Paudash Letter to Stakeholders .pdf

BSM 2010 Fact sheet.pdf

2011 Lake Surveys SR version .pdf

Renting your cottage this summer?

Print up our handy “tips for renters” posters. Full of “dos” and “don’ts” for everything from what to avoid putting down the sink, what to do with the garbage and how to keep your septic running smoothly.

Give yourself peace of mind while letting others enjoy your piece of heaven.

Bathroom tips poster_Bathroom REV with x .pdf

Kitchen tips poster_kitchen.pdf

Garbage tips poster_Garbage Disposal.pdf

Laundry tips poster_laundry.pdf

PLCA Summer Events 2011

Don Thomas Memorial Rock Bass Derby

Paudash Lake Marina 

Saturday, July 9

10 am

We’re thrilled to return this year’s Rock Bass Derby to its original date in July in order to take advantage of Family Fishing Weekend, when fishing licenses aren’t needed. Registration is at 10am and weigh-in is at 3pm. 

Annual Membership Meeting

Cardiff Community Centre

Saturday, July 16 

10 am

Special guest speaker: Velma Watters of GreenTEC

Annual Regatta And Fun Day

North Bay Beach

Saturday, July 30 (rain date: July 31) 

Noon to 4pm

Bring the whole family out for a day of fun and competition, both in and out of the water. A big barbecue rounds out the day. Don’t miss this opportunity to mingle with your fellow lake friends!

And finally, be sure to check out the Summer 2011 Newsletter here.

There are big bass in Paudash--caught Sept. 5th by Bill Lowry

Do You Need a Boating License?

The Paudash Lake Conservation Association has partnered with www.BoaterExam.com to offer our members a $10 discount off their online exam. Simply enter the following code during registration: MG779

As of September 15, 2009 all boaters are now required to have the Pleasure Craft Operator Card in order to operate a powered watercraft. There is no grandfather clause or age exemption – this law applies to all boaters. Powered watercraft includes watercraft fitted with any size motor – even a trolling motor.

To receive this boat operator license, you must pass a multiple-choice exam with a score of at least 75%. If you don't pass on your first attempt, you can retry the exam at no additional cost.

Where can I take my exam and get my boating license?

You can write your exam directly online at www.BoaterExam.com. Once you pass the exam your boat operator license is mailed to your home. In the meantime, you can print off a temporary license and use that while you wait for your permanent card to arrive.

 

Where can I study for my boating license?

All the required safe boating training material to get your boat operator license is available for free at www.BoaterExam.com. Simply visit our Free Safe Boating Training section to gain access to the course manual.

Where can I get more information about Canadian boating regulations and the Canadian boating license?

Answers to most of your questions can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page of www.BoaterExam.com. You may also visit the Canadian Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety for additional information here http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/debs/obs/menu.htm

Message from Cottagers Against Uranium and Mining Exploration (CUME)

Hello Friends,

 

Elizabeth May’s (the leader of the Green Party of Canada) attendance at our upcoming anti-uranium rally at Queen’s Park, Toronto, Sept. 27, (2-4:00) is drawing quite a bit of media attention.  (See first attachment for Toronto Star article praising our cause.)  SO LET’S GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO PHOTOGRAPH ON THE BIG DAY!

 

We’ve come up with a unique design for our protest signs: a canoe paddle sandwiched between two placards.  It makes a bold statement, and the smooth paddle handle is great for easy carrying.  (See next two attachments for photos.)

 

How to make “protest paddle”:  One piece of yellow foamboard (this is the stiff backing)

                                              One piece of yellow bristolboard (flexible to bend around paddle)  Both available at             Staples or Michaels.

                  

Write or paint your message on both placards.  Then  “sandwich” your paddle between the two placards and secure with duct tape.   Join both placards together by covering all edges with duct tape.  Canadian Tire carries it in red and other colours.

 

On a more serious note, last week, I got a last-minute call to make a formal submission at Queen’s Park, to the Government Committee on the Mining Act Amendments-- Bill 173.  Spaces were limited; FOCA applied to speak, for example, but was denied a place.  So I was the only one in Southern and Eastern Ontario, speaking out for cottagers’ rights!   It was an interesting experience, and I’d be happy to give you all the details.

 

Also, we’re still short of funds needed to ensure that the rally’s a big success, so any contribution to the cause would be greatly appreciated.  If you’d like to make a donation, please send a cheque made out to CUME, and mail to:

 

CUME

P.O.Box 95518

R.P.O. Newmarket Centre

Newmarket, ON L3Y 8J8

 

Feel free to call anytime,

 

Susanne Lauten

Cottagers against Uranium Mining and Exploration

Cottagers.vs.mining@sympatico.ca

(705) 286-6147

(905) 895-6869

SHADES OF GREEN

Why is someone drilling in my backyard?

Jun 06, 2009 04:30 Am

PETER GORRIE

The province claims it made peace with residents of cottage country when it made private property in Southern Ontario off-limits to prospectors.

Its new policy, announced this spring, "takes bold steps toward a modern, innovative Mining Act that would balance all of our respective interests, benefit Ontario communities and support a vibrant Ontario minerals industry," says mines minister Michael Gravelle.

But "nobody is happy," says Robin Simpson, a leader in the battle to stop uranium mining in Haliburton County, a couple of hours northeast of Toronto. "We were used so the minister could say there were proper consultations. They obviously weren't listening at all."

Many cottagers and full-time residents of Haliburton and, further east, Frontenac, are up in arms over companies trying to take advantage of renewed interest in nuclear power by reviving uranium mines that briefly operated a few decades ago.

Ontario's Mining Act lets prospectors stake claims, without seeking permission, on government Crown land and on private properties where the owners don't control the rights to minerals under the surface.

Claim holders are then free to conduct drilling and other exploration work, which usually entails bulldozing or blasting. It's illegal to attempt to stop them.

The property owners, including many cottagers from the GTA, along with aboriginal groups in Frontenac, have campaigned effectively against potential mining developments.

For First Nations, the issue is treaty rights: Prospecting and exploration are happening on land they claim. Non-natives are concerned about their property rights, and the prospect of radioactive air and water pollution, as well as noise, from mines on Crown land near their homes and cottages.

The province announced recently aboriginal communities are to be consulted before further mining activity, and prospectors can no longer claim private land anywhere in southern Ontario. (There are also new measures for the Far North, equally flawed, which I'll write about in a future column.)

But aboriginal leaders complain the province could still impose mining on their traditional lands. And Simpson points out the new policy does nothing about mining on Crown land, viewed as the biggest threat to an area aiming to create a tourism economy.

On top of that, the province will still hold the mineral rights under private properties, and reserves the power to eventually allow mining on them.

"It's the same old, same old ... a big bloody sham," says Simpson, whose land has been partially staked for uranium exploration.

"It's a crock," says Steve Quebell, sawmill worker who lives with his wife and teenage daughter on 33 hectares of forested land in Haliburton that's been claimed by a company planning to mine nepheline, a relatively rare mineral used in glass and paint.

The ministry is backing the claim, despite evidence, says Quebell, that it wasn't staked properly and that holes were drilled too close to a stream. The exploration crew bulldozed 500 square metres of trees and soil for one of the six holes it drilled.

On the larger front, having seen their original demands ignored, the cottage-country residents will now campaign for a prohibition against any mining on Crown land in southern Ontario.

Their efforts include pressuring members of the Legislature, many of them Liberals, who represent cottagers' home ridings.

Mining in southern Ontario accounts for only one per cent of the industry's spending in the province. The companies involved are minor players, and most of their projects will amount to nothing.

As staking and exploration expand in prime vacation areas (there's also been activity in the Parry Sound area), the government appears to be creating a lot of trouble for itself for little benefit.

Peter Gorrie is the Star's former environment reporter. He can be reached at: pgorrie@sympatico.ca

IN SPRING, HOPE BLOOMS ETERNAL

 

John Tory sympathized with CUME’s cause, and gave us some valuable advice, before being defeated in the election.   He suggested we “hit on” on a number of key MPPs regarding the uranium issue.  Some of them have cottages in our area.  Letters do make a difference.  He suggests we write, call, orVISIT the MPPs on this list.  (They’re more approachable than you may think.)

 

Norm Miller – Conservative mining critic

John Gerretsen—Liberal Minister for the Environment:  jgerretsen.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Greg Sorbara—Liberal minister who just wrote a report on the importance of tourism to the region.

Jerry Willett—Oshawa--has a cottage in Haliburton area

John O’Toole—Durham--has a cottage in Haliburton area

 

Susanne’s suggestions:

Richard Johnson, newly elected MPP Haliburton-Kawarthas

Frank Klees—Head of the Conservative Caucus, he endorsed CUME’s application for the PROTEST RALLY AT QUEEN’S PARK.

Cheri DiNovo—NDP—recently challenged mining minister Gravelle, during Question Period, regarding Haliburton’s uranium concerns.

Peter Tabuns—former executive director of Greenpeace and NDP’s energy and environment critic.

 

Also, Al Zikovitz, the president of Cottage Life magazine is organizing a URANIUM DISCUSSION PANEL AT THE COTTAGE LIFE SHOW, Friday March 27th.   International Centre, Toronto. Intersection of Airport Rd. and Derry Rd.

 

It starts at 7 p.m. and parking and admission to the discussion forum is free. He hopes to attract some media attention.  Come out and participate; this is a great opportunity to make your opinions known.

 

Susanne Lauten

Cottagers against Uranium Mining and Exploration (CUME)

Cottagers.vs.mining@sympatico.ca

(905) 895-6869

(705) 286-6147

Hello PLCA members. Here is a recent update on the mining situation from our friends at F.U.M.E.

Hello Everyone.

 

We thought it was time to do an update to all of you good folks. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all the best in the new year. We have been taking a bit of a break after the craziness of the Mining Act revision meetings that ended with our private meeting with the policy advisors to the Minister of Mines. There are many bits of information we wanted to pass on to you.

 

Mining Act Revision

The final day for comment was Jan 15th. Many comments were made from the Haliburton area, most quoted the Three Modest Proposals that we used during the stakeholders meetings, We hope the government are listening. The draft of the new "revised" Mining Act will be coming before the Legislature during the spring sitting sometime on or after Feb. 15th.   We will get a copy of the draft at the same time as the house does and will send it on to all of you for comment.   There are many ways that the revised Act can pass through the Legislature.   If the bill is not unanimously accepted, it will go to Committee, at which time there will be more opportunity for public input.   Have your pens and keyboards at the ready.

 

Exploration

We have heard that El Nino Ventures is NOT going forward with further exploration at this time due to Can Am Uranium (60% option holders in all El Nino Claims) has decided not the fund the project any further. They will only be doing basic maintenance (under Ministry guidelines) on the claim to keep it. Bancroft Uranium seems to have simply disappeared. ;-)) Their website hasn't been updated in months, Hammond is gone and if you follow the "Information" links from their website they lead to disconected phones.

Abitibi Mining has no exploration plans and will be maintaining their claim as well.

This is all good news depending on what the Province does with the Mining Act.  We hope that, if they do decide to implement the Three Modest Proposals, that they do not decide grandfather the existing claims to avoid potential lawsuits from prospectors (which could be likely).    In that case, we could still be in this situation.   

 

 

Media Coverage

Peter Gorrie (formerly an environmental writer for the Star) is currently doing a piece on the uranium issue here for Cottage Life Magazine spring issue. They have also put a link on the Cottage Life website to FUMEs website which is pretty great news. We thank them very much for helping out in this big way.

As always, the wonderful folks at the Echo and the County Voice have been doing updates and publishing letters to the editor regarding the uranium issue, we thank them very much for their continued interest and support.

W5 did their program which was good. Unfortunately, as seems to happen, much was left out. It is great, however, that the big media is finally doing something.

Additionally, this past weekend, we were interviewed along with Roger Young, by a Masters of Journalism student who is preparing a radiodocumentary on this issue for his thesis.

 

New Group in Town: CUME ;-)))

Cottagers against Uranium Mining and Exploration is a new group that that has formed here in Haliburton. FUME is supporting this group and it's activities and they in turn are supporting FUME. Susanne Lauten is the organizer and has been busy organizing cottage associations, meeting with her MPP, organizing a march on Queens Park for late summer, sending letters and encouraging others do do the same. We will be adding a CUME page on FUME's website.   We'll email you all when we get the information and the page goes up. 

 

Upcoming Plans

Susanne Lauten and Robin will be having a joint meeting with John Tory, at which time we will ask some blunt questions regarding the Mining Act, the PC Party's position on the Act, as well as local concerns.  I'm hoping that will be soon as I'd like to get a feeling of where he stands before the all candidates meetings. We'll keep you informed.

As you all know, John Tory is (most likely) going to be our new MPP.   Though he has already received a couple hundred letters about the uranium exploration and Mining Act issue here, we will be initiating another letter writing campaign after (if) he takes office just to remind him.

 

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support.

 

-- 

Robin Simpson & Christine Atrill

Founders

Fight Uranium Mining & Exploration (FUME)

www.fighturanium.com

(705) 447-3407