Dartmouth Urban Lakes Commission - Question Period
CLAUDIA CHENDER: My question is for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Dartmouth’s 23 freshwater lakes are an incredible asset to the HRM. The North American Indigenous Games, canoe and kayak events, the ICF World Championships, and countless other competitions are slated to take place on Lake Banook, home to three sprint canoe and kayak clubs, two rowing clubs, and a dragon boat club. Countless other recreation takes place on all of our lakes.
It is easy to forget through the Winter months that this Summer will be another Summer when those lakes are plagued by invasive weeds and algae blooms, but now is the time we need to be planning ahead. Despite a hopeful first meeting with the previous Minister of Environment and staff two years ago, we now find ourselves needing to renew our request on community demands for action on Dartmouth’s lakes.
Can the minister please provide an update on the department’s work to protect our lakes?
HON. KEITH IRVING: Yes, I am aware of the file. It is one of the files I’ve been briefed on in my early days here. I understand these are complex multijurisdictional issues, which your colleague mentioned in a member’s statement earlier.
I would be very happy to sit down with you and your colleague to have a conversation further about this issue.
CLAUDIA CHENDER: Mr. Speaker, hundreds of community members came out on a Summer evening in 2019 to share their thoughts and concerns about Dartmouth’s urban lakes, which we then passed on to the former Minister of Environment. The lakes have tremendous ecological, economical, and recreational value. They are a part of Dartmouth’s identity. We are the City of Lakes.
The challenges facing the lakes, as the minister pointed out, are complex, with multiple contributing issues, governing policies, and cross‑jurisdictional responsibility. The resident ask from the community was that an urban lakes commission be convened to work collaboratively with all the stakeholders towards solutions. We presented that ask over a year ago.
My question for the minister is: Will he commit to establishing an urban lakes commission, as requested by the community?
KEITH IRVING: I thank the honourable member again for bringing forward this issue. Our staff are always willing to provide information with respect to this complex issue. Again, I’d be very happy to meet with the honourable member and her colleague to discuss further a path forward.