Minister Prentice’s letter to extend Canada-Ontario Agreement on the Great Lakes
Letter from Minister Prentice to Minister Gerretsen confirming mutual agreement to extend the Canada-Ontario Agreement respecting the Great Lakes Basic Ecosystem.
March 29, 2010
The Honourable John Gerretsen, M.P.P.
Minister of the Environment
Government of Ontario
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th Floor
Toronto ON M4V 1P5
Dear Minister:
I am pleased to confirm our mutual agreement to extend the term of the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem for one additional year.
The current Canada-Ontario Agreement is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2010. Article XI permits Canada and Ontario to amend the Canada-Ontario Agreement by an exchange of letters setting out the amendment and the effective date. On behalf of our respective governments, we have agreed to amend the Canada-Ontario Agreement by extending its term to March 31, 2011, and that the effective date of the amendment will be March 31, 2010. We have also agreed that our respective letters confirming the one-year extension shall be considered as part of the Canada-Ontario Agreement.
Since 1971, Canada and Ontario have worked together under a series of Great Lakes agreements that have guided our efforts to improve the environmental quality of the Great Lakes Basin, and contributed to meeting Canada’s obligations under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. As you are aware, in June 2009 Canada and the United States announced their intention to negotiate amendments to the Great Lakes Agreement to strengthen and modernize it, in order to address new challenges. That amendment process will take approximately one year. We have agreed that it is vital that Canada and Ontario continue to work together under the Canada-Ontario Agreement framework so that our efforts to protect and improve the Great Lakes can continue during the Great Lakes Agreement amendment process.
I look forward to our continued efforts to protect and improve the Great Lakes. The Government of Canada pledges to work together with the Government of Ontario under the existing Canada-Ontario Agreement, and to negotiate a new Canada-Ontario Agreement, once the amendments to the Great Lakes Agreement are in place.
The Great Lakes play a vital role in the physical, social and economic life of Canada. Ontario’s continued commitment to preserving and protecting the Great Lakes is appreciated.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Jim Prentice, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
c.c.: The Honourable Gerry Ritz, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Gail Shea, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Christian Paradis, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P.