List water soldier as invasive
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to list water soldier as invasive, appoint a single federal lead, and fund and support Water Soldier Working Group to manage populations in Lake Simcoe and other Ontario waters.
Why we would sign this petition
- Authorizes coordinated federal action to remove a plant whose sharp leaves and dense mats threaten human safety and recreational use of Lake Simcoe.
- Helps protect native plants, fish and wildlife by funding monitoring and removal to prevent habitat loss and altered water chemistry.
- Supports early, organized intervention near the Holland River to reduce risk to agricultural water sources and support local farming.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Requires additional federal funding that may compete with other priorities or impose significant budgetary costs.
- Appointing a single federal lead could duplicate or conflict with provincial, municipal and Indigenous authorities already involved.
- Proposed methods include physical removal and herbicides, which can harm non‑target species and raise environmental concerns.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the Government of Canada to the following: Whereas The invasive aquatic plant species water soldier (Stratiotes aloides) was discovered in Lake Simcoe in the area of Cook's Bay in August 2024 and its presence was confirmed by the Water Soldier Working Group, which group comprises federal and provincial government agencies, local municipalities, conservation authorities, first nations, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations dedicated to preventing the spread of water soldier and managing existing populations; Water soldier is a physical threat to human health and the recreational enjoyment of Lake Simcoe because of its sharp serrated leaves and dense growth mats; Water soldier is a threat to native plants, fishes, and animals because it chokes off native plants, crowds out native habitats, and alters water chemistry; Water soldier is a threat to local agriculture because of its connection and proximity to the Holland River, which is an important water source for agricultural operations; and Effective remediation measures exist to stop the spread of water soldier and manage existing populations, such as physical removal and herbicidal treatments. Therefore, we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call on the Government of Canada to: 1. List or otherwise identify water soldier as an invasive aquatic plant species under relevant federal law; 2. Nominate a single federal department or agency to take responsibility for federal efforts to stop the spread and manage existing populations of water soldier, including by representing federal interests to the Water Soldier Working Group; and 3. Allocate sufficient financial and technical support to the Water Soldier Working Group or its group members to research, monitor, remove, and manage water solider populations in Lake Simcoe and other bodies of water in Ontario.
Government response
No government response is available yet.