Ten Reasons for Establishing an Ecological Corridor Across Southern Georgian Bay

The Escarpment Corridor Alliance (ECA) was formed with the explicit goal of creating a
permanently protected corridor across the escarpment of Southern Georgian Bay. Here are the Top 10 Reasons why this matters now.

1. 500 Square Kilometers – the ECA envisions a corridor winding its way along the
   escarpment from Creemore to Georgian Peaks, from Castle Glen through Kolapore and Duncan, and across the Beaver Valley. This corridor would connect existing parks,
   conservation areas, crown lands, county forests, private lands as well as other ecologically sensitive areas. The warning signs are everywhere – we need to act to
   connect and protect these lands before it’s too late.
2. Corridors Are HOT – top scientists and policy makers around the world are in absolute agreement – without ecological connectivity, our biodiversity crisis cannot be stopped. And this connectivity can only happen by stitching together isolated ‘islands of nature’ to create functional ecological corridors. The ECA is adopting Parks Canada’s Ecological Corridor principles, and will be seeking financial support from the Federal Ecological Corridors program. We envision a future where our most important, regional natural assets will be fully protected for generations to come.
3. Four Prime Kilometers – above all, we need to protect the brow of our escarpment.
   Saving the Castle Glen and Talisman properties from mega-development are among the ECA’s highest priorities. The proposed Castle Glen development (1,600 homes, golf courses, hotels and retail commercial space) would destroy almost three kilometers of prime escarpment land and forever change the iconic escarpment views from downtown Collingwood. Likewise, the proposed Talisman development would destroy its section of the escarpment brow, irreparably tarnishing the natural beauty of the Beaver Valley.
4. Countless Species at Risk – our escarpment is one of the most biodiverse parts of
   Canada. Through field studies, scientific mapping and collaboration with experts, the
   ECA’s natural heritage work is focused on saving our precious ecosystems so that our
   flora and fauna will not only survive, but thrive. To date, we are already tracking over
   16 threatened and endangered species in the Castle Glen area, and would like to
   expand this surveillance region. Did you know:
   • The escarpment is located at the headwaters to some of the last remaining
     viable coldwater fisheries in Georgian Bay, and to the feeding of clean, cold
     water into the critical intact wetlands along the shores of Nottawasaga (Georgian) Bay;
   • If protected, these natural and associated cultural assets can provide sustainable conservation economy, providing a sustainable livelihood and recreational playground for future generations.
5. Unrelenting Development Pressure – While Castle Glen and Talisman represent highly visible areas of opposition, the ECA is not an anti-development organization. We are trying to influence a better outcome in an inevitable development boom. Did you know:
   • The Town of Blue Mountain was the second fastest-growing municipality in Canada in the last census;
   • There are currently 10,000 development applications in consideration in The Town of Blue Mountain alone, and it could hit its 2046 growth target in less than a decade.
   • The ECA advocates for a balanced approach in which our natural assets are valued not only for their aesthetic appeal, but also for their economic value and their role in bolstering our physical and mental wellbeing.
6. 88% – the ECA’s recent Escarpment Community Survey was completed by over 3,000
   respondents, making it among the most robust surveys ever done in the region. 88% of respondents were concerned, very concerned or extremely concerned about how sprawl and development are impacting our region. They want to see development focused in existing settlement areas versus destroying our magnificent forests, fields and wetlands.
7. Just How Protected is The Niagara Escarpment? – Several major systemic issues keep us awake at night at the ECA:
   • The Niagara Escarpment, just like Ontario’s Greenbelt which houses it, is protected by an “Act” – a piece of paper that can be changed at any time. Ontario’s recent Greenbelt fiasco illustrates the perils of relying on an Act for protection.
   • The role and effectiveness of the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) in
     overseeing the protection of the escarpment has long been questioned, and was
     the subject of a scathing 2022 Auditor General report.
   • While our Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation, awarded in 1990, is a testament to the unique natural attributes of our region, it doesn’t offer any real protection against inappropriate development.
8. Not A Solution to Our Housing Crisis – the ECA fully supports the need to address our many housing challenges, in particular with respect to attainable housing. However, we don’t believe in false trade-offs between housing and the environment. Make no mistake, recreational developments like Talisman and Castle Glen, with expensive seasonal and second homes, are not the solution to our housing crisis.
9. Many Hands Make Light Work – the word Alliance in the ECA name is very intentional. An explicit goal of the ECA is to partner and collaborate with other regional stakeholders to align our top priorities. From there, we can create one powerful voice/message for political leaders and other key decision makers. We have forged important relationships with the common understanding that we can’t achieve our goals in isolation. We look forward to deepening existing relationships in 2024, and expanding our circle of partners.
10. Progress is Being Made – the ECA launched on March 1, 2022. Since then, we’ve been overwhelmed by how our vision resonates, and by the incredible support we’ve
    received. ECA is now on the federal radar, and is fully aligned with federal ecological
    corridor goals. We are especially grateful for the support of our local and regional
    governments – staff and elected officials – who have been very generous with their
    time, and supportive of our cause. In years gone by, this collaboration was not always
    present. To the Town of Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Clearview, Grey Highlands and
    beyond, we thank you!