Act
Extension of the 2007 Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA)
Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Act
Summary of Decision:
Canada and Ontario will continue to work together to restore and protect the Great Lakes environment by extending the current Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) by one year to March 31, 2011.
Article XI of the COA contains a provision for the amendment of the COA through an exchange of letters by the Parties. In March 2010 the federal and provincial Environment Ministers confirmed the one year extension of the 2007 COA through an exchange of ministerial letters. The Government of Ontario has posted these letters on the Environmental Registry as part of this Decision Notice.
Public Consultation on the proposal for this decision was provided for 30 Days, from February 09, 2010 to March 11, 2010.
As a result of public consultation on the proposal, the Ministry received a total of 24 comments: 8 comments were received in writing and 16 were received online.
All comments received during the 30-day public review period were considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministries of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
Ontario’s “Healthy Great Lakes, Strong Ontario” engagement process has helped shape a long term Vision, Goals and Strategies for the Great Lakes which will guide Ontario’s actions during the COA extension period and assist in setting priorities for a new COA in 2011 (Registry Number 010-6105).
Article XI of the COA contains a provision for the amendment of the COA through an exchange of letters by the Parties. In March 2010 the federal and provincial Environment Ministers confirmed the one year extension of the 2007 COA through an exchange of ministerial letters. The Government of Ontario has posted these letters on the Environmental Registry as part of this Decision Notice.
Public Consultation on the proposal for this decision was provided for 30 Days, from February 09, 2010 to March 11, 2010.
As a result of public consultation on the proposal, the Ministry received a total of 24 comments: 8 comments were received in writing and 16 were received online.
All comments received during the 30-day public review period were considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministries of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
Ontario’s “Healthy Great Lakes, Strong Ontario” engagement process has helped shape a long term Vision, Goals and Strategies for the Great Lakes which will guide Ontario’s actions during the COA extension period and assist in setting priorities for a new COA in 2011 (Registry Number 010-6105).
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
10-MOE019
Posting Date:
April 12, 2010
Summary of Proposal:
The 2007 Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) will expire on March 31, 2010. The governments of Ontario and Canada are proposing a one year extension of the COA through to March 31, 2011. This extension will enable continued collaboration on the Great Lakes, and it will allow Canada time to determine direction on planned amendments to the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) that will help inform the development and implementation of a new COA with Ontario.
The Ontario Ministries of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and six federal departments are signatories to the 2007 COA. The 2007 COA consists of an overarching Framework Agreement that sets out the Vision, Goals, Principles and administration of the COA, and four Annexes that outline the goals, results and commitments of the signatories.
During the extension period, Ontario will continue to collaborate with Canada and other partners in work to advance the Goals and Results in the Agreement, as well as to focus efforts on implementation of the:
o Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Complete Prevention Plan
o Lake Huron Southeast Shores Project
o Lake Erie Binational Nutrient Management Strategy
o Lake Ontario Binational Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
The Ontario Ministries of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and six federal departments are signatories to the 2007 COA. The 2007 COA consists of an overarching Framework Agreement that sets out the Vision, Goals, Principles and administration of the COA, and four Annexes that outline the goals, results and commitments of the signatories.
During the extension period, Ontario will continue to collaborate with Canada and other partners in work to advance the Goals and Results in the Agreement, as well as to focus efforts on implementation of the:
o Lake Superior Aquatic Invasive Species Complete Prevention Plan
o Lake Huron Southeast Shores Project
o Lake Erie Binational Nutrient Management Strategy
o Lake Ontario Binational Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
Contact Address:
Carolyn O'Neill
Manager
Ministry of the Environment
Integrated Environmental Policy Division
Land and Water Policy Branch
Great Lakes Office
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 6
Toronto Ontario
M4V 1P5
Phone: (416) 314-7833
Fax: (416) 326-0461
Manager
Ministry of the Environment
Integrated Environmental Policy Division
Land and Water Policy Branch
Great Lakes Office
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 6
Toronto Ontario
M4V 1P5
Phone: (416) 314-7833
Fax: (416) 326-0461
Royal Assent Date:
March 31, 2010
Decision:
Approved