Great Lakes Overview

The Great Lakes – Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior hold 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water. 40 million people - 30% of Canada’s population and 10% of the U.S. population – live in the Great Lakes basin. The Great Lakes basin supports over 50% of Canada’s Manufacturing output, 25% of Canada’s Agriculture and over $330 billion annually in Ontario-U.S. Trade.

The Great Lakes basin’s ecological health is the keystone to its long-term economic success. The Lakes have a rich and diverse ecosystem and support a wide array of plants and animals. All aspects of the natural environment, from weather and climate, to wildlife and habitat are affected by the Great Lakes system. The long history of agricultural and industrial development has placed the Great Lakes basin’s ecosystem under tremendous stress. Growing population has created serious pollution problems, destroying vital habitat contributing to the decline of wildlife and fish species. Over half of Canada’s 444 species at risk reside in the Great Lakes Basin. The challenge is to minimize the pressures on the environment by changing the way we live and do business.