Group calls for better protection of Northeast Swale, more funds for MVA

A group of people concerned about the impact of development on the Northeast Swale aired their views at a Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) board meeting on Friday.
 
The board considered a report from CanNorth, an environmental consultants firm. The report looked at ways to lessen the impact on the swale of the North Commuter Parkway and the proposed Perimeter Highway, a pair of roadways set to run through the sensitive ecological area.
 
Several speakers told the board they were dismayed by one particular part of the report. The consultants wrote that the roads would likely be a barrier to larger animals like deer and coyotes. They went on to say efforts should focus on protecting plants and smaller creatures — like birds and amphibians, because the larger animals aren’t endangered and there is other habitat nearby.
 
“Nobody knows how many deer are there. Nobody knows how they go in and out of the river valley. How they move in their lifetimes…we don’t know how animals use that landscape,” Louise Jones with the Swale Watchers group said.
 
Jones said the group hoped to see research undertaken to catalogue the wildlife in the area so that there is data on hand to compare with as development proceeds.
 
That idea found some traction on the board, with city councillor Charlie Clark adding a recommendation that the MVA look into setting up research and monitoring, along with a funding strategy to pay for it.
 
MVA resource planning manager Mike Velonas cautioned the board that the authority has long wanted to get that research and monitoring work done — but has historically not had the money.
 
Jones said she wanted to see the MVA better rescourced.
 
“The poor MVA has been so starved for funds. Come on city, university, province — you’ve got to ante up and make sure that this really important organization has the funds it needs to do its job,” she said.
 
Ultimately, the board moved that the CanNorth report be added to its considerations as it works to approve a master plan for the northeast swale. The board also passed Clark’s recommendation to come up with a plan for research and monitoring.
 
The Swale Watchers are planning an information event at the Frances Morrison library on April 18.