Great Lakes Newsletter...
Fall 2004/ Winter 2005,
Vol. One, Issue Three

Welcome to issue three of The Great Lakes Update, a new e-Newsletter designed to bring you the latest about the Government of Canada’s Great Lakes program. We’ll tell you about developments in the program, successes and reports/publications of interest to everybody and anybody concerned about the health of the Great Lakes. We look forward to your comments and welcome information which we might include in future issues. And, please let others who might be interested know about The Great Lakes Update.

Comments, questions and suggestions are welcome! Please complete the Feedback Form.

STATE-OF-THE-LAKES ECOSYSTEM CONFERENCE 2004

Toronto was the site of the State-of-the-Lakes Ecosystem 2004 conference (SOLEC) in early October. SOLEC 2004 was attended by several hundred scientists, policy makers and representatives from a wide variety of sectors interested in the health of the Great Lakes. Conference reports can be viewed at www.solecregistration.ca/en/reports/default.asp.

SOLEC, first held in 1994, is a biennial meeting to discuss information on the state of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem, as partial fullfillment of the governments' responsibility to report under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Subsequent to the conference, a State of the Great Lakes report is produced.

THRONE SPEECH COMMITMENTS TO GREAT LAKES – ST. LAWRENCE ECOSYSTEMS

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence figured in the Speech from the Throne, tabled on October 5, 2004, among a number of environmental commitments. Quoting from the speech, “In 2005, the Government will bring forward the next generation of its Great Lakes and St. Lawrence programs, underscoring its commitment to protect and preserve these internationally significant shared ecosystems.” Related to this, “As the Government builds a sustainable society at home, it will continue to pursue multilateral and bilateral approaches to what are ultimately global challenges. For example, it will work with the United States and agencies like the International Joint Commission on issues such as clean air, clean water and invasive species.”

To view the Throne Speech in its entirety, visit www.pm.gc.ca/eng/sft-ddt.asp on the Government of Canada’s web site.

CANADA AND ONTARIO MAKING MAJOR INVESTMENT IN MUNICIPAL AND RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

All Ontario municipalities of less than 25,000 people can now apply to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) to improve their public infrastructure. The Governments of Canada and Ontario signed an agreement on November 15, 2004 to each provide up to $298,000 million over the next five years to improve public infrastructure in small urban and rural municipalities throughout the province. Participating communities will be expected to contribute one third of the cost of any project, bringing the total investment in sustainable infrastructure up to $900 million. The investments will help communities improve water and sewage treatment and waste management, fix local roads and repair bridges, as well as help deal with other health and safety priorities. Other funding categories include: public transit, municipal energy improvement, cultural, recreational and tourism infrastructure, and connectivity.

For more information on the Government of Canada and Ontario’s infrastructure programs, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.pir.gov.on.ca.

NEW GREAT LAKES REPORT -- TWELFTH BIENNIAL REPORT ON GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY

In this recent report to the governments of Canada and the United States, the International Joint Commission highlights key issues and makes specific recommendations on the effects of urbanization on the Great Lakes; threats associated with alien aquatic species; pathogens and disease-bearing microbial contaminants in drinking sources; chemical contamination; methyl mercury and human health; and recent pathological changes taking place in Lake Erie.

Copies of the Twelfth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality are available online at the International Joint Commission website.

GREENROOF TECHNOLOGY

As development in and around urban areas continues, so does the loss of green space. Natural areas are important in many ways – the vegetation can be a water filter, the greenery provides a cooling effect in the summer and the trees are natural filters for air pollutants and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. There has been success in bringing these benefits to the urban landscape with greenroofs – or rooftop gardens. There are two major greenroof study projects underway in the Toronto area funded by the Government of Canada’s Great Lakes Sustainability Fund; one at York University and one at the Eastview Community Centre. The sites are being monitored on a seasonal basis for a minimum of three years to assess their benefits, which hopefully will include the reduction of contaminants in stormwater runoff.

For information, contact – Liz Sauer, 416-739-4475.

HOUSEHOLD MERCURY COLLECTION

The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup has teamed up with federal, provincial and community partners on a project to reduce mercury pollution in the Detroit River Canadian Area of Concern. The project, supported by Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Environment, the City of Windsor, the Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority and the Town of Lasalle, aims to collect household items containing mercury, including thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs and batteries from residents of Windsor and surrounding areas. Mercury has been identified as a critical pollutant by agencies and community partners working on the Detroit River Remedial Action Plan. Sources such as sewers, wastewater treatment plants and landfills contribute to localized mercury contamination in the Detroit River, leading to fish consumption advisories and human health risks.

For further information, contact Melanie Coulter, Detroit River Canadian cleanup at 519-776-5209, extension 356.

2005 INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE AND BIENNIAL MEETING ON GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY

Visit www.ijc.org/2005biennial/about_en.php for information and to register at this three-day conference, taking place in Kingston, Ontario June 9 – 11, 2005. The biennial meeting will be focus for public participation in the review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Keynote speakers will include Dr. David Schindler and Dr. David Suzuki.

SPECIES AT RISK WEB SITE AND INFORMATION RESOURCES

Environment Canada’s Ontario Region has launched a regional Species at Risk web site at www.on.ec.gc.ca/speciesatrisk. The site, together with on-line publications provides information on the Species at Risk Act (SARA), as well as recovery projects with regional partners. And, while visiting that site, take some time to explore the award winning “Our Great Lakes” site on Environment Canada’s Ontario Green Lane . Our site is focused on giving you the latest information in the easiest way possible, and we are evolving to improve our delivery of the information you want. You’ll find news releases, reports, resources and excellent site for children, success stories and links to partners.