Council chambers packed for Species At Risk and Provincial Significant Wetlands motions

Before council made the decision to support the two motions there were several presentations trying to convince the councillors to reject them.

Before a packed council chambers, Hannah Bywater says the wetlands need to be protected.

“The lines are there for a reason. The wetlands are very important and we need to preserve them,” she says.

Yan Roberts says the original motions being rejected by all the politicians was good news but.

“Very disappointing that the wetlands motion passed again. They’re listening but they’re not learning. They haven’t taken the time to understand the significance of what they’re asking,” he says.

Roberts says the wetlands boundaries are what they are for many reasons.

“They are imperative for habitat, water retention and significant weather events. The language is quite clear. They’re significant,” he says.

Harriet Madigan says there’s been little consultation with this whole process inside the community and out.

” Councillor Bain says it’s up to the province to decide where the line is going. But he asked for that. He asked for the line to be moved. I’m thinking about the impact that’s going to have on North Bay but other communities too,” she says.

A presenter Jennifer Plummer did it through her music. She wrote and played a song entitled City Please.

There were 13 presentations in all.