[getsmart-l] Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative welcome Canadian Federal-Provincial cooperation over Great Lakes

[Media Release]

Emacs!


Media Release- For Immediate Release

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative welcome Canadian 
Federal-Provincial cooperation over Great Lakes

Mayors call for greater municipal role, funding for legacy 
infrastructure and clean-up

(Toronto, Canada, August 20, 2007)  In response to the signing of the 
Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem 
last week, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative 
congratulated the Canadian Federal and Ontario governments for their 
renewed commitment to protecting the Great Lakes.

The Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin 
outlines targets and funding that guide federal and provincial 
programs to protect the Great Lakes. "This renewal of federal and 
provincial funding for Great Lakes programs is an encouraging sign 
that both levels of government are committed to the protection of the 
Great Lakes," said founding Canadian Chair of the Cities Initiative, 
Mayor David Miller of Toronto. "We now need a seat at the table for 
cities to reflect the central role that we play in protecting the 
Great Lakes and more funding to address the full range of problems."

The 2007 COA pledges to delist Areas of Concern (AOCs) in Nipigon 
Bay, Jackfish Bay, Wheatley Harbour, and the St. Lawrence (Cornwall) 
over the next three years. "Prioritizing funding to delist some of 
the smaller Areas of Concern and the St. Lawrence makes sense,"  said 
Lynn Peterson, Mayor of Thunder Bay and Vice Chair of the Cities 
Initiative, "We welcome the provinces $30 million commitment to 
Hamilton Harbour and look forward to this renewed federal-provincial 
commitment towards restoration of the remaining 13 AOCs, like the 
sediment clean up in the St. Clair River and Thunder Bay, and more 
costly infrastructure upgrades in Toronto and Windsor," added Mayor Peterson.

At its recent annual conference, the Cities Initiative called on 
Canadian and US Governments to establish a legacy fund to provide 
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence municipalities with grants for historical 
infrastructure challenges including the replacement of leaking pipes, 
separation of storm and sanitary sewage systems; and the upgrading of 
remaining primary sewage treatment plants."Progress on the legacy of 
contaminated sites and outdated infrastructure in cities around the 
Great Lakes and along the St. Lawrence is held up by a lack of 
resources," said Brian McMullan, Mayor of St. Catharines and Cities 
Initiative Ontario Regional Chair. "However, with the recent 
provincial announcement, the financial partnership with other orders 
of government has been strengthened and we can now begin moving 
beyond last century's problems."

For more information on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities 
Initiative, please go to www.glslcities.org.

-30-

Media contacts:

Canada:

Nicola Crawhall
Deputy 
Director 

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities 
Initiative 

Cell: 416-432-2739

United States:

David A. Ullrich
Executive Director
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
312-201-4516


www.glslcities.org 



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