Local mayoral candidates were asked to weigh in on issues affecting Lake Simcoe, but few responded.
Ahead of election day on Oct. 24, Lake Simcoe Watch posed the following question to candidates in municipalities bordering the lake: Do you believe that Lake Simcoe’s municipalities should formally request that the Government of Ontario promptly fund and implement a plan to reduce Lake Simcoe’s phosphorus pollution to 44 tonnes a year by 2030?
The organization noted the province, in 2009, released its Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. That plan called for phosphorus to be reduced by 50 per cent, to 44 tonnes per year.
While five of the seven candidates for mayor in Barrie responded, none of the three vying for the top political job in Orillia — Mason Ainsworth, John Maxwell and Don McIsaac — have answered the question, according to the Lake Simcoe Watch website.
In Oro-Medonte, incumbent Harry Hughes and fellow candidate Randy Greenlaw responded, saying, “Yes.” (This article has been updated to include Greenlaw’s response, which was not included on the Lake Simcoe Watch website at the time this was initially posted.)
Russ Cole was the only mayoral hopeful in Ramara to weigh in, also saying, “Yes.” Incumbent Basil Clarke and candidate Marg Sharpe have not answered the question.
All of the responses from candidates in the region can be found here.
