THUNDER BAY – Politics – The province of Ontario is bringing forward legislation to protect the Great Lakes. “Today we celebrate the Great Lakes that are vitally important to the people of Ontario for our drinking water, quality of life, and prosperity. We need to restore them now to continue to enjoy their benefits for this and future generations,” said Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.
The Ontario Government, in a media release state “Ontario is protecting the Great Lakes with proposed legislation that recognizes the importance of the environment, economy and health of Ontarians.”
The Great Lakes Protection Act, if passed, would:
- Help fight climate change, reduce harmful algal blooms, and protect wetlands and other coastal areas.
- Monitor and report on the health of the lakes.
- Bring people together to take action on priority issues.
- Build on Ontario’s leadership in protecting the Great Lakes, including our Great Lakes Strategy and partnerships with Canada, Quebec, U.S.A., and the Great Lakes states.
Protecting the Great Lakes supports the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
Backgrounder
- The Great Lakes provide more than 80 per cent of Ontario’s drinking water and are important for the province’s economic prosperity.
- Over 95 per cent of Ontario’s agricultural land is in the Great Lakes basin.
- Since 2007, Ontario has committed more than $125 million to over 1,000 Great Lakes projects.
