BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives Memo 2025-M-064 as presented;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Council pass the attached motion (Appendix A – attached hereto
as part of this report) urging the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of
Transportation to establish an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program, similar to Manitoba’s, to
protect lakes in Northeastern Ontario.
WHEREAS there is a growing concern among residents of the Municipality of Temagami regarding the significant risk of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) being introduced into local lakes by boats arriving from high-risk areas without appropriate inspection and decontamination;
AND WHEREAS Ontario currently has no mandatory inspection or decontamination requirements in place to prevent the spread of AIS;
AND WHEREAS it is well documented that the overland movement of watercraft and water-related equipment is the primary vector for transporting AIS to uninvaded water bodies in North America;
AND WHEREAS the Province of Manitoba operates an annual AIS watercraft inspection program from late spring through the middle of fall, requiring all motorized and non-motorized watercraft to stop at designated inspection stations for assessment and potential decontamination;
AND WHEREAS the Manitoba program applies to a broad range of watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, fishing boats, sailboats, personal watercraft (Jet Ski®), stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), and any water-related equipment that has come into contact with a water body;
AND WHEREAS the Manitoba government’s AIS Regulation under The Water Protection Act mandates decontamination procedures at designated sites strategically located along highways and other key locations to prevent the spread of AIS;
AND WHEREAS the Province of Ontario is currently developing several new rest stops along key Northern Ontario highways but has not included AIS wash stations within their mandate;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Municipality of Temagami calls upon the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Transportation to establish an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program similar to Manitoba's, to protect lakes in Northeastern Ontario;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Province of Ontario be urged to designate select new rest stop locations, such as Marten River, as sites for AIS inspection and decontamination stations;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be circulated to other municipalities along Highway 11, as they are directly affected by watercraft movement and share similar concerns regarding the introduction of AIS, for their support and endorsement;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Federation of Northern Municipalities, requesting their advocacy to ensure the protection of lakes within their jurisdiction;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be sent to Premier Doug Ford, requesting his support and collaboration with the relevant Ministries to implement this program.