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The Ottawa River is flowing closer to a heritage designation.
Environment Minister John Baird announced yesterday he will support the plan to make the 1,271-km river, which runs through Ontario and Quebec, a heritage river.
“This is a really important acknowledgment of what we all know—that the Ottawa River is an extremely important asset that needs to be protected,” said NDP MP Paul Dewar, who introduced a motion in the House of Commons in 2006 for the government to protect and preserve the river, which serves as the source of drinking water for 1.1 million people.
The designation will help reduce pollution in the river because it will be monitored regularly.
“This is terrific for promoting eco-tourism,” Dewar said, comparing the pending designation to last year’s UNESCO designation of the Rideau Canal as a World Heritage Site.
“This is a victory for our community, particularly the hard-working people who have spent the last five years seeking this recognition.
“We now need action to reduce the pollution that is affecting our river.”
The Ottawa Sun