Sep 5: Ontario's governing Liberal Party released its platform in advance of the October 6 provincial election, promising a Great Lakes Protection Act, if elected. From the Great Lakes–St Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement signed by Premier McGuinty in 2005 to the Ontario Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act of 2010, "Ontario has done a pretty good job of leading efforts that improve Great Lakes health," according to Derek Stack, Executive Director of the bi-national environmental group Great Lakes United (GLU). He said, "Now Ontario is poised to be the first among Great Lakes states and provinces to legislate a Great Lakes Protection Act."
The platform details an investment of $16 million over four years through a Great Lakes Protection Act. Stack said, "With promises to fund beach clean-up properly implemented, the province can seriously promote Great Lakes health. It's simple, the number one reason people work to protect the Great Lakes is that they use and appreciate the resource. A fund to promote beach clean-up and recreation will help to foster a higher public profile for the Great Lakes in the provincial psyche. While this is a positive step forward, even if it is well-targeted, less than $1M a year per Great Lake is hardly a windfall."
The platform details an investment of $16 million over four years through a Great Lakes Protection Act. Stack said, "With promises to fund beach clean-up properly implemented, the province can seriously promote Great Lakes health. It's simple, the number one reason people work to protect the Great Lakes is that they use and appreciate the resource. A fund to promote beach clean-up and recreation will help to foster a higher public profile for the Great Lakes in the provincial psyche. While this is a positive step forward, even if it is well-targeted, less than $1M a year per Great Lake is hardly a windfall."
GLU indicated in a release that, "The Americans, despite a much bleaker financial outlook at all levels, are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into 'on the ground' actions that restore Great Lakes health, in addition to billions more for infrastructure upgrades. In all fairness, that's primarily a federal contribution. The Canada-Ontario Agreement details that kind of fiscal transfer from the federal government. And that Agreement will need to comply with the regulations set out in the Canada–US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement currently being renegotiated."
Access a posted release from GLU (click here). Access the Liberal Party platform (click here).
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