Lake Ecological Integrity

Little is known about the ecological features and environment management practice for Harrington Lake other than what can be gleaned from a few photos of the Residential grounds. This is unfortunate since the Lake could be used to communicate best practice in designing and managing shoreline property as well as overall water management related to biodiversity monitoring and public education.

Unfortunately what the photos seem to illustrate are only an antiquated approach to supporting the historical designation of the property namely, "The Prime Minister’s Cottage reinforces the picturesque character of its country estate setting and is a symbol of the Prime Minister’s Office within the region," rather than the vision in the Gatineau Park Master Plan, May 2005 that describes the Park as the Capital’s Conservation Park with a vision focused on conservation, on welcoming Canadians and on recreational activities that are respectful of the environment, for the benefit of present and future generations.

Harrington Lake is typical of the thousands of Canadian Shield lakes across the Country and would make an ideal setting for conducting research and public educational tours to illustrate some of the goals the Master Plan outlines such as:

• demonstrating a Canadian commitment to environmental conservation;

• encouraging Canadians and visitors to become more aware of conservation;

• communicating the key ideas regarding conservation of natural environments;

• developing virtual interpretation experiences;

• communicating the results of research;

• management approach focused on conservation;

• bringing together groups of experts on particular issues.

The Residence's landscaping seems shockingly out of place in a Park intending to highlight the natural heritage features of the Canadian Shield. The vast lawns are more reminiscent of the Country Estates of the Oakridge Moraine area of Southern Ontario.

The many roads and driveways seem to unnecessarily add to the impermeableness of the property

Extensive lawns lead to the water's edge without any buffering to help filter runoff which is an even greater concern when nothing is known about fertilizers and pesticides that might be being used.

What appears to be an artificially constructed beach on an engineered shoreline where all the natural trees and shrubs have been removed.

Are the plants indigenous and useful in supporting pollinators and birds?

Overall, the Summer Residence is but another example of far too many shoreline properties across the Country that seem to have given little consideration to water quality, fish habitat, native flora, local biodiversity and property drainage etc. As a consequence rather than inspiring an appropriate stewardship behaviour for shoreline property it encourages those that could be more effective stewards of their own properties to simply say, "If the PM doesn't do it, why should I" - in short a great opportunity to do the right thing lost.