Government Relations

The Big Rideau Lake Association monitors local, provincial and federal government activities, and represents lake interests where appropriate. 

BRLA executives have been working closely with the Mayor of Rideau Lakes Township, the Reeve’s of Tay Valley and Drummond North Elmsley and their councils to establish positive, collaborative relationships to address environmental and other issues that impact our members and communities around the lake.

The following are highlights from recent work:

Westport Waste Water

Westport was reviewing options for a new wastewater treatment plant and appeared to be favoring an approach that would dump treated effluent into Upper Rideau Lake. The BRLA joined with Rideau Lakes Township and other lakes within the township to strongly oppose the decision with letters to the Mayor and Council of Westport. After significant negative feedback, the Westport Council agreed to remove dumping treated effluent into Upper Rideau Lake from consideration. 

Campground Management

The issue of campground management was under discussion in 2000 when the BRLA executives joined with local residents to oppose unmanaged development of campgrounds. Over the following two years, BRLA executives worked with the Township to develop a new set of bylaws to govern new campgrounds and expansion of current campgrounds. 

Later, wastewater disposal became an environmental concern after one campground was fined for dumping grey water, BRLA worked with the Township council to develop a licensing fee for campgrounds that included self testing for sewage disposal. The plan to implement the licensing fee is under review in the Rideau Lakes Township Council. Those two actions put Rideau Lake Township on the forefront of campground management in the province.

Rideau Lakes Lake Advisory Committee (RLLAC)

The mayor of Rideau Lakes Township established the Rideau Lakes Lake Advisory Committee (RLLAC) that is the envy of almost every Lake Association in the province. The committee includes members from every Lake Association within the township and meets every two months. The committee has a significant voice in all environmental and other issues facing our lakes.

Bass Fishing Tournaments

Over the past few years, Bass Fishing Tournaments have increased and fishing next to docks and swimming areas has been a source of concern for residents around Big Rideau Lake. The two Reeves and Mayor jointly sent a letter to tournament organizers on June 24, 2024, that included the following

“While the majority of your participants are courteous, there are some who create disturbances and angst amongst our waterfront residents.  We respectfully request that you ask your registrants to refrain from casting close to private docks and boathouses, have regard for vehicle and trailer parking rules in our various hamlets and at boat launches, and be respectful of engine noise and creating wakes. Such courteous behaviour will go a long way to maintaining good will between tournament participants and shoreline property owners.”

In addition, BRLA executives lobbied with Parks Canada to include similar wording in the special event permits that are required for fishing tournaments. Those changes have been implemented for the 2025 special event licenses for fishing tournaments.

Bass Sanctuaries

Big Rideau Lake Association has taken a lead role working with Dave Philipp and Steven Cooke of the Fisheries Conservation Foundation (FCF) to expand the highly successful Bass Spawning Sanctuary programs in Opinicon and Charleston Lakes to cover an additional 15 lakes in Eastern Ontario. The three township councils around the lake have been kept abreast of the plan and all three township councils have provided letters of support for discussion with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to expand the sanctuaries to Big Rideau Lake in 2026.