June 5-13 2021

June 13, 2021

More than one source we have spoken with has indicated that the proposed operation is under the ownership of an established East Coast based aquaculture business.

Searching Google, we found this recent press release, which shows a large scale aquaculture facility in Nova Scotia that has just received Provincial funding.

Click here to see the press release: https://www.cookeseafood.com/2021/03/15/kelly-cove-salmon-ltd-receives-provincial-government-approval-for-new-land-based-hatchery-in-nova-scotia/ 

June 13, 2021- Concerned citizen speaks to the mayor

June 11, 2021

It has just become evident that the property involved was purchased April 13, 2021 by the Georgian Bay Innovation Group Limited. www.gbigroup.ca. Within the last week they have issued an eviction notice to a long term tenant requesting the removal of his livestock within 14 days.

June 10, 2021

The call was returned by Renee Belanger, an environmental officer at the Ministry of the Environment (Conservation and Parks). She wanted to confirm that operations had been witnessed on site at Beckons Lane. She also acknowledged that they had been involved in preliminary discussions of a proposed Aquaculture facility. She relayed information regarding special licencing requirements for anyone removing in excess of 50,000 litres of water per day from provincial water. 

Further questions were met with instruction to seek further information under the Freedom of Information Act.

On the same day, Tracy Allison, Resources Management Supervisor from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry returned call to acknowledge dialogue with a party seeking to build a large scale commercial Aquacultrure facility. She also acknowledged they were an Eastern Canadian based company. She indicated that the MNR did issue a provincial Aquaculture operation license. 

Concerns were raised over the water table and impact on residential wells to which she replied the scale of this operation being discussed would be too large to use well water and 

in fact require a pipeline for water to be pumped from and then 'scrubbed' before being returned to Colpoy’s Bay. 

Further questions were met with instruction to seek further information under the Freedom of information Act.

June 9, 2021

The Duty officer at the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) was contacted. Although he had no knowledge of the project he took information and forwarded it to the appropriate person in the office. 

June 8, 2021

Initiation of inquiries to Town of South Bruce Peninsula and Ministries 

Danielle Edwards, Economic Development Officer of South Bruce acknowledged they were in receipt of information regarding the proposed operation. She also acknowledged that they had made a determination of zoning compliance at the proposed site between Beckons Lane and Berford Lake Road. 

Further questions were met with instruction to seek further information under the Freedom of Information Act. 

June 5, 2021

Heavy equipment operations and markings were witnessed on an agricultural site at 83 Berford Lake Roadside. The crew was working between between Beckons Lane and Berford Lake Road, South Bruce Peninsula

A worker on site indicated a large scale commercial Aquaculture facility including a pipeline to supply and return water to Colpoy’s Bay.