Harper Government taking action to restore, protect and conserve Canada’s Great Lakes Joe Preston, MP, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, was in St. Thomas, Ontario, to highlight the Government of Canada’s renewed commitment to the Great Lakes. On December 18th, the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA), 2014 entered into force. This Agreement is a partnership between the Governments of Canada and Ontario, and establishes an action plan to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes over the next five years. Through this agreement, Canada will: • Take action to address algal blooms, including blue-green algae • Complete actions to clean up historical Areas of Concern including the Niagara River, Nipigon Bay, Peninsula Harbour, the Bay of Quinte and the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall) • Help prevent aquatic invasive species from entering the lakes • Protect the lakes from harmful pollutants • Conserve important fish and wildlife habitats • Strengthen collaboration with the Great Lakes community “The Great Lakes are vitally important. They provide us with drinking water, recreation, energy, transportation, and enhance our quality of life,” said MP Preston. “By making important improvements to this tremendous natural resource, we are helping to make the communities around the Lakes better places to live, work and play.” The 2014 COA is the result of negotiations between Canada and Ontario and engagement with the Great Lakes community. The Government of Canada looks forward to continuing to work with many partners to protect the Great Lakes, including the Government of Ontario, First Nations and Métis, municipal governments, conservation authorities, non-government organizations, the scientific community, industrial, agricultural, recreational and tourism sectors, and members of the public. Quick Facts • Since 2006, the Government of Canada has invested more than $20 million into 367 projects to protect and restore Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health, as part of the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. • The Great Lakes play a vital role in the physical, social, and economic life of Canada, and support almost 40 per cent of Canada’s economic activity. • The Great Lakes directly provide drinking water to more than 10 million Ontario residents. • COA will help Canada deliver commitments under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:54:51 +0000
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