www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 8, 2017 | 6 EDITORIAL | OPINION The buzz on bees ABOUT US The 2017 Bumble Bee Count is on. Hopefully it will help Canadians get to know more about their busy neighbours. In response to global concerns about declines in pollinator biodiversity, Friends of the Earth is conducting its second Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count, offering downloadable `Census Cards' to help identify the bees. The campaign asks people to look for and take photos of bumble bees and to upload the photos with observations so scientists can track and study the bees. The Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count runs until Sept. 15. Participants in last year's event submitted 1,218 photos and observations for the census, including 12 submissions for the critically-at-risk yellowbanded bumble bee. More than two-thirds of the food crops we depend on bene t from pollination by native bees, honey bees and other pollinators. Bumble bees are capable of buzz pollination making them particularly effective pollinators for certain crops and owers -- including blueberries and tomatoes. That's according to Friends of the Earth Canada -- the Canadian member of Friends of the Earth International, the world's largest grassroots environmental network campaigning on today's most urgent environmental and social issues. "We know from our recent poll Canadians care deeply about saving the bees, but they know very few of them by name," says Beatrice Olivastri, CEO, Friends of the Earth Canada. The national survey, which was released in June, found almost seven out of 10 Canadians were either `concerned' or `very concerned' over the health of bees. "Bees are up against big stresses like habitat loss, climate change, pesticides and diseases," says John Bennett, senior policy advisor, Friends of the Earth Canada. "Canada has over 40 species of bumble bees but many of them are in trouble. Photos and observations about bumble bees from the Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count could signal changes in how bumble bees are dealing with the same issues you and I face from heat waves to res and oods. This is critical information and we really need help from concerned citizens." The Rusty-patched bumble bee, once abundant in southern Ontario is now almost extinct and of cially designated as endangered. Six more bees have declined to such an extent scientists have advised the federal Minister of Environment to take steps to protect them. There are over 850 con rmed species of wild native bees in Canada. Find out more about the Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count at foecanada.org. The Oakville Beaver, published every Thursday and Friday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 100 community publications across Ontario. View our digital edition online at: Insidehalton.com under Print Editions found in the footer. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editor@oakvillebeaver.com @OakvilleBeav @oakvillebeaver insidehalton.com R Infrastructure investments support quality of life helps maintain a high quality of life in Halton that is second to none. State of good repair water and wastewater main upgrades have kept our Public Works department busy in Oakville this summer. Important repairs and upgrades are being made across the town to ensure residents continue to enjoy reliable access to safe and clean drinking water. We are also working closely with the local municipalities to ensure that when construction is complete, roads are repaved to keep neighbourhoods safe and keep traf c moving. My View esidents may notice that it has been a busy and productive construction season here in Halton Region. These exciting and necessary improvements throughout the region are made possible through our Building a Better Halton Plan an investment plan of $4.1 billion over 10 years into capital infrastructure projects, including $1.9 billion to fund state of good repair. These investments ensure access to clean drinking water, keep traf c moving, and build sustainable communities, which Gary Carr Halton Region Chair It has also been an active construction season at our waterfront parks along Lake Ontario. see Keeping on p.8 Pud by Steve Nease WHO WE ARE Delivery Vice-President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Neil Oliver CONTACT US The Oakville Beaver 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 Phone 905-845-3824 / Fax 905-337-5568 Classified 1-800-263-6480 Digital/Flyers/Retail Advertising 289-293-0624 Real Estate/Homefinder.ca Advertising Suzanne Trickey / 289-293-0677 / strickey@oakvillebeaver.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. 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