May 15, 2008

DEVOLIN AND TRENT SEVERN CAUCUS HOLD INAUGURAL MEETING

LINDSAY:  - Local MP Barry Devolin along with the other members of the newly formed Trent Severn Caucus met for the first time last night at Queen’s Park in Toronto .  The group was created in response to the recently released report by the panel reviewing the future of the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) entitled “It’s All About the Water.”

In a co-operative effort to promote this report, the federal and provincial members of parliament who represent the people and communities along the waterway have agreed to form a new Trent Severn Caucus.

These members are:

*Rick Norlock (MP-Con) and Lou Rinaldi (MPP-Lib) from Northumberland;

* Dean Del Mastro (MP-Con) and Jeff Leal (MPP-Lib) from Peterborough ;

* Barry Devolin (MP-Con) and Laurie Scott (MPP-PC) from Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock; and

* Bruce Stanton (MP-Con) and Garfield Dunlop (MPP-PC) from Simcoe North.

The first decision made by Trent Severn Caucus members was to select Barry Devolin (MP-Con) and Jeff Leal (MPP –Lib) as co-chairs.

Their second decision was to direct the co-chairs to meet as soon as possible with relevant federal and provincial ministers to explain why the Trent Severn Caucus wants to see the report’s recommendations implemented.

These ministers include the Honourable John Baird, federal Minister of the Environment and Minister Responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Gary Lunn, federal Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Donna Cansfield, Ontario ’s Minister of Natural Resources and the Honourable Peter Fonseca, Ontario ’s Minister of Tourism.

“I am very pleased that each member agreed that, as political leaders, we are going to work together to ensure this historical landmark gets the special care it deserves and is re-established as a world class destination for recreational boaters and a model of environmental sustainability,” said Devolin.

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