| SESSION 1 (10:00 am - noon) - WETLANDS TOMORROW PANEL Panelists: - Alice Davies: Mgr, Lower Qu'Appelle Watershed Stewards
- Dr. Peter Leavitt: U of Regina
- Colin Whitfield, Helen Baulch: Global Institute for Water Security
- Michael Champion: Ducks Unlimited Canada
Reply from Water Security Agency - Shawn Jaques, President and CEO
Number of attendees - 104 Average rating given by attendees - 89.9 % Comments and questions from attendees - - Why is the Water Security Agency only now designing an Ag drainage policy rather than a comprehensive wetland policy that we were led to believe was the purpose of all our inputs in 2019 consultations? Both Alberta and Manitoba have wetland policies...why not Sask?
- Who is the policy lead for WSA? What are the performance indicators that balance safer reliable water with economic growth? Is the policy agriculture biased?
- Could Alice give a definition of the point-source nutrient loading and non-point source loading for the listeners.
- Ag drainage has been unregulated for years. If we wait til the fall of 2023 and your mitigation policy, there will be few wetlands left, at the rate drainage is going. Will you seriously begin regulating drainage now?
- Thank you for all the very valuable information provided this morning. We have a significant area of lakeside development for recreation purposes. We do not have a significant agriculture component. We're looking at ways to reduce the stress of recreation on our lakes. Have you heard of Haven Floating Islands and do you know the results of their impacts? thank you (not sure who this question should be directed to.)
- Can Helen or someone expand on why cover cropping and perennial forage is bad for water quality? I think back to pre-colonization where perennial native grasslands would have dominated the landscape, from what I can tell there is no concern with nutrient transfer downstream from that landscape so why is there concern about converting marginal agricultural land to perennial coverage to get it back to a pre-colonization state?
- Ag drainage has been unregulated for years. If we wait till the fall of 2023 and your mitigation policy, there will be fewer wetlands left, at the rate drainage is going. Will you seriously begin regulating illegal drainage now?
- Thank you for the very valuable information provided this morning. We have significant area of lakeside development for recreation purposes. We do not have a significant agricultural component. We are looking at ways to reduce the stress of recreation on our lakes. Have you heard of Haven Floating Islands and do you know the results of their impacts?
- Why is WSA only now designing an AG drainage policy rather than a comprehensive wetland policy that we were led to believe was the purpose of our inputs in the 2019 consultation? Both Alberta and Manitoba have wetland policies, ... why not Sask?
- We heard from MLAs Travis King and Don McMOrris that lakes in the Qu'Appelle have always been green. According to Dr. Leavitt's presentation, this statement by these MLAs is not correct. WSA's mandate is to protect water quality in this province. Statements that are not based on science do not set this province up for success. Do you agree with Dr. Peter Leavitt that the degredation of the lakes is due to increased nutrient loading and that a wetland policy would in fact help reduct the loading to the rivers, streams, and lakes in the province?
- Who is the policy lead for WSA? What are the performance indicator that balance reliable water with economic growth? Is the policy agricultura biased? Please explain what you mean by mitigation? Are you all about water or all about agriculture?
- Question for Helen Baulch, panelist: Can you expand on wh cover crepping and perennial forage is bad for water quality? I think back to pre-colonixation when perennial native grasslands would have dominated the landscape and from what I can tell, there is no concern with nutrient transfer downstream from that landscape. So why is there conven about converting marginal agricultural land to perennial coverage to get back to a pre-colonial state?
SESSION 1 RECORDINGS: Wetlands Panel: https://youtu.be/bU9AX4g8gTY WSA Policy Update: https://youtu.be/U9pDB_eOVew SESSION 2 (1:00 - 2:30 pm) - MEMBERS FAIR Presenters: - OH of Pasqua Lake
- RV of Coteau Beach
- RV of Lumsden Beach
- RV of Island View
- RM of District of Lakeland
- RV of Manitou Beach
- RV of Sask Beach
- RM of McKillop
Number of attendees - 46 Average rating given by attendees - 83.7 % Comments from attendees - - The Couteau presentation was very impressive! How big is your RV? (permanent and seasonal population)?
SESSION 2 RECORDING: Members Fair: https://youtu.be/PKaAC-UEOmk SESSION 3 (3:00 - 4:00 pm) - A PROPOSED NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORGANIZED HAMLETS AND THEIR RM Presenters - Andrea Ulrich and Tobi Duck, Ministry of Government Relations Number of attendees - 68 Average rating given by attendees - 84.7 % Comments from attendees - none SESSION 3 RECORDING: Government Relations: https://youtu.be/og_V5TGjrCw Questions directed to particular panelists will be forwarded. | 