Our Great Lakes

Recognizing success: Inside the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy

The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS), led by Environment Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with other federal departments and agencies, Great Lakes states, the Province of Ontario, Tribes and First Nations provides a "beyond compliance" framework for actions to reduce or eliminate from the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem persistent toxic substances, especially those which bioaccumulate.

Recent successes include:
Releases of mercury in Ontario have been cut by more than 11 600 kilograms since 1988 (83 per cent from the 1988 baseline). As of March 2003, approximately 85 per cent of high-level PCB wastes had been destroyed. Four companies recently received an Award of Merit recognizing their valuable contribution for the elimination of high level PCBs , at least 90 per cent company-wide or at their sites. These firms include Enersourceof Mississauga, Ontario; Hydro One Inc., of Toronto; Slater Steels of Hamilton and STELPipe Ltd., of Welland. A number of sectors, including utilities, steel, automotive and others have signed voluntary commitment letters to Environment Canada pledging to reduce and remove PCBs.

Canada has achieved a 79 per cent reduction in releases of dioxins and furans, relative to the 1988 Canadian baseline. Based on current initiatives underway or proposed for dioxins/furans, it is expected that Canada will meet its 90 per cent reduction commitment by 2005 in the Great Lakes Basin. Latest Canadian inventory estimates show a reduction of releases of HCB by 62 per cent and a B(a)P reduction of 45 per cent from a 1988 baseline.

The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Stakeholders Forumand Integration Work Group meetings took place in Chicago, Illinois on December 17, 2003. Approximately 130 people attended the meetings, including Canadian and United States representatives from government, industry, First Nations and non-governmental organizations. Keynote speaker at the forum was Paul Whylie from the United Nations Environmental Program, who provided the audience special insight into the issue of global toxics of mutual concern and reconfirmed the contribution of the GLBTS to the reduction of toxic substances.