Ontario: Revived Act Will Address Key Problems Affecting the Great Lakes

Ontario’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), Glen Murray, announced February 18, 2015, that he proposes to re-introduce the Great Lakes Protection Act - a measure which died on the order paper when the government announced the 2014 provincial election.

If approved, the new Bill 66 Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015 will set science-based targets to address the most severe threats and empower local groups to develop solutions to address some of the biggest problems facing the Great Lakes including pollution, wetland loss and algal blooms.

In addition, it would allow the minister to direct a public body to develop  eographically focused initiatives to achieve the purposes of the act; and prohibit a municipality or municipal planning authority to undertake any public work, improvement of a structural nature, or enact any by-law that conflicts with a designated policy set out in the initiative.

In addition, a Great Lakes Guardians’ Council would provide a forum for provincial ministers to discuss priorities, financial measures and share information.