GLIN==> Cities and Province Affirm Commitment to Restoring and Protecting the Great Lakes

For full report, press release, backgrounder and other information,
please visit www.glslcities.org/coamoc.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cities and Province Affirm Commitment to Restoring

and Protecting the Great Lakes

First-ever Great Lakes Summit held in Toronto

 

May 5, 2009, Toronto - The Ontario Government and the mayors of
municipalities around the Great Lakes have strengthened their commitment
to coordinate efforts to restore, protect and promote the Great Lakes.

 

Ontario mayors and provincial cabinet ministers met today for the first
time to discuss shared interests and concerns about the Great Lakes and
their watersheds at a summit meeting organized by the province and the
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. 

The Ontario mayors presented their recommendations and report, "At the
Shoreline: A Mayors' Collaborative Action Plan to protect the Great
Lakes", to the province today. 

 

"We have received a lot of excellent advice which will help us decide on
future programs and policies for the Great Lakes," said Environment
Minister John Gerretsen. "As the mayors have recommended, we agree it is
critical to understand the economic benefits of investments in the Great
Lakes. We are committed to working with the mayors on an economic
study."  

 

Gerretsen also indicated that the economic study would involve other
partners and stakeholders, including nongovernmental organizations,
other municipalities, Aboriginal communities and business and industry
around the Great Lakes.  The federal government will also be invited to
participate.

 

 The provincial ministers agreed to work with the mayors on other areas
of shared interest in their Great Lakes Action Plan, including enhancing
and promoting beaches, wetlands and natural areas along the shorelines
and considering the implications of climate change for stormwater and
sewage discharges into the Great Lakes.

 

"Great Lakes municipalities are collectively the largest financial
contributor to Great Lakes protection, with Ontario municipalities
investing over $2 billion a year. It is essential that the federal and
provincial governments work with us to coordinate our efforts and
investments," said Toronto Mayor David Miller. "As Great Lakes mayors we
are calling on our federal and provincial partners to work with us to
implement a joint protection plan for the Great Lakes.  Together we can
work to improve people's enjoyment of the Lakes and stimulate local
economies in communities across Ontario."

 

The province and the Cities Initiative signed a Memorandum of
Cooperation last year that paved the way for today's summit and to the
municipalities providing input into implementation of the Canada Ontario
Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA). It has
resulted in a series of meetings between provincial and municipal staff
members to discuss areas of common concern, leading up to the summit.

 

As well, the Province is currently seeking input into its Great Lakes
Priorities from a broad group of partners, stakeholders, nongovernmental
organizations and Aboriginal communities.

 

"The Great Lakes mayors' recommendations complement the broader work
that the province and our partners are doing to protect and restore
Great Lakes ecosystem health," said Natural Resources Minister Donna
Cansfield. "We look forward to working with the municipalities on shared
areas of interest in the urban environment." 

 

At the meeting, mayors and ministers also considered how to bring
federal, provincial and municipal leaders together to protect the Great
Lakes. The importance of Canada-US cooperation on Great Lakes protection
was also discussed. 

 

"Great Lakes Mayors recognize the importance of securing further support
from our federal government in protecting these waters of national and
global significance, said Thunder Bay Mayor Lynn Peterson, chair of the
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, "Engaging federal
governments on both sides of the border to strengthen bi-national
cooperation and to involve mayors and local communities is vitally
important."

 

Mayors and ministers also recognized the importance of attracting more
people to the Great Lakes' shorelines, to build support for Great Lakes
investments and to promote local Great Lakes economies.   

 

"Having clean water in the Great Lakes is vital to urban and rural
communities," said Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona
Dombrowsky.  "As a shared resource, water is also a shared
responsibility, which is why it is crucial for us to work together to
protect it." 

-30-

 

Media Contacts:

 

Ontario Ministry of the Environment

John Karapita, Office of the Minister 416-314-6736 

Kate Jordan, Communications Branch 416-314-6666

 

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

Nicola Crawhall, Deputy Director 416-432-2739

 

City of Toronto 

Francine Antonio, Strategic Communications 647-224-8022

 

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

 

Melissa A. Soline

Program Manager

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

177 North State Street, Suite 500

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Phone 312.201.4517

Fax 312.553.4355

melissa.soline at glslcities.org <mailto:melissa.arjomand at glslcities.org> 

www.glslcities.org <http://www.glslcities.org>  

 

 

 

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