11/06/2005 - Canada and
Ontario have made major strides in improving
water quality, rehabilitating fish and wildlife
habitat and reducing toxic chemicals in the
Great Lakes Basin, according to a new progress
report on the first two years of the 2002
Canada-Ontario (COA) Agreement Respecting
the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
The report was released today by Canada’s
Environment Minister, the Honourable Stéphane
Dion, and Ontario’s Environment Minister,
the Honourable Leona Dombrowksy, at a forum
of Great Lakes managers and stakeholders at
the International Joint Commission’s 2005
Great Lakes Conference and Biennial meeting.
At the same time, both ministers congratulated
community and agency partners who collaborated
in developing a sediment management strategy
for the Cornwall waterfront, which was also
introduced at the forum.
“Through agreements such as COA, we are continuing
to build on past successes in restoring the
environment of the Great Lakes basin,” said
Minister Dion. “The Cornwall Sediment Strategy
is a leading-edge partnership and illustrates
our common pursuit and continued commitment
to a sustainable development.”
“COA’s success is due in large part to a
tremendous commitment to co-operation,” said
Minister Dombrowsky. “The Cornwall Sediment
Strategy is a unique collaboration between
governments, environmental groups and academics,
which perfectly illustrates how well the partnership
approach is working.”
The Cornwall Sediment Strategy calls for
contaminated sediments along the waterfront
to be left undisturbed to allow natural recovery
to continue. The strategy was developed after
30 years of environmental data showed that
the mercury-contaminated sediments are stable
and pose no risk to people or the environment.
A group of seven agencies from four levels
of government (municipal, provincial, federal
and First Nations) are committed to an ongoing
and active role in implementing the strategy.
In addition, Environment Canada and the Ontario
Ministry of the Environment have established
a long-term monitoring program to ensure the
strategy remains effective.
COA is a five-year agreement that builds
on more than 30 years of collaboration between
the governments of Canada and Ontario in addressing
Great Lakes issues. The COA outlines how the
two governments will continue to work together
to focus efforts and help clean up the Great
Lakes basin ecosystem.
Implementation of the Canada-Ontario Agreement
is co-ordinated by Environment Canada and
the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
