The province will play an enhanced role in the operations of the Trent-Severn Waterway, Peterborough’s MP announced Thursday in a ceremony near the Lift Lock.

Dean Del Mastro and Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal signed a memorandum of understanding that solidifies a long-term agreement involving co-operative management of the waterway.

“In the past, this has been thought of as a federal (property),” Del Mastro said.

The waterway is administered by Parks Canada.

“Traditionally, Ontario hasn’t been a player in this,” Del Mastro continued. “But it belongs to all Canadians, and all Ontarians, so Ontario should have a role to play in this.”

The agreement came from recommendations made by the Panel on the Future of the Trent-Severn Waterway in 2009.

“One of the things that came out of that panel report was the need for the province and the federal government to work together.”
Dawn Bronson, Parks Canada’s field unit superintendent for Central Ontario.

“One of the things that came out of that panel report was the need for the province and the federal government to work together,” said Dawn Bronson, Parks Canada’s field unit superintendent for Central Ontario.

As part of the process, a roundtable was held in January at Trent University, involving more than 150 people representing communities and organizations with ties to the waterway.

The agreement outlines the roles to be played by the federal and provincial governments in managing the waterway and its resources, Del Mastro said.

From tourism to fish habitats, co-operative management of the waterway benefits both levels of government, he said.

Leal and Del Mastro said the two levels of government will work together through the offices of federal Environment Minister Peter Kent and Ontario Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey.

The 387-kilometre, 45-lock recreational waterway connects Lake Ontario, at Trenton, with Georgian Bay, at Port Severn.