HAVE THE REGION OF WATERLOO BEEN GILDING THE LILY REGARDING THE GRAND RIVER?

A week ago today there was an article in the Waterloo Region Record titled "Pollution makes the Grand River "sick" written by J.P Antonacci. It described the journey by boat down the Grand River by a group of both native and non-native Canadians. The natives decided to see what the effects of development, both industrial and residential were on the health of the river. It was an eye opener. North of Kitchener-Waterloo including Elora and Fergus tyhe water was clean and clear. Going south through the most heavily built up and densely populated sections of the riverthe paddlers noticed the effects of pollution, soil erosion and agricultural runoff. They could tell by both the colour and the odour of the water. ................................................................................................................................. Currently the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (native Canadians) have a moratorium on development within the Haldimand Tract which extends approximately six miles on each side of the Grand River. They are looking for consultation with builders and governments. Our courts at the moment may be reluctant to honour that moratorium although there have been some signs of movement on the matter of development without consultation. Regarding the pollution, the paddlers noticed a direct relationship between the amount of development and the deteriorating water quality. They specicially mentioned the crystal clear water in Elora versus how dark the water is in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. One student from Western University on the trip mentioned that growing up in Brantford, she and her friends knew how gross the water in the Grand River was. ............................................................................................................................... If there was an optimistic note it was that seeing how much cleaner the river was in the northern parts they felt that there was hope eventually for the river further south, with good stewardship. My opinion is that the combination of ever increasing development and population combined with flowery tributes, good intentions and governments gilding the lily all essentially doom the Grand River to continue deteriorating in water quality. Here in Waterloo Region legacy projects like the Light Rail Transit trump and outweigh spending on Sewage Treatment Plants and better planning and development decisions along the river.