OTTAWA, May 19, 2004 - The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today released the following statement welcoming the creation of the United States Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, announced in Washington, DC.: “The Government of Canada warmly welcomes the announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Mike Leavitt of the establishment of a U.S. Great Lakes Task Force to improve coordination among U.S. agencies responsible for clean up programs in the Great Lakes. The Executive Order signed yesterday by President Bush to create the Interagency Task Force is a strong sign of the importance of the Great Lakes to the United States Government and its commitment to addressing the key impacts on the environmental quality of the lakes. The Canadian Government reaffirms its commitment to work with the United States to address these challenges, including integrated water management, invasive species and habitat protection and restoration. Since 1972, the Governments of Canada and the United States have worked cooperatively under The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to protect the Lakes. Under this agreement, we have established the Great Lakes Binational Executive Committee to ensure binational coordination and cooperation between Canadian and United States agencies responsible for delivering programs in the Great Lakes. In support of Canada’s commitments under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Government of Canada launched the Great Lakes Program in 1989. The Great Lakes Program was renewed in 1994, and again in 2000. The current Great Lakes Program is a coordinated effort among eight federal departments and agencies, with the objective of ensuring that Canada’s commitments under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement are met. Canada’s coordinated effort includes Environment Canada, Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Transport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Parks Canada Agency. In addition, the Governments of Canada and Ontario coordinate their activities in the Great Lakes through the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA). This cooperative effort between eight federal departments and agencies and three provincial ministries has allowed us to make progress in cleaning up and restoring the Great Lakes. The sixth COA agreement was signed in March 2002. The Government of Canada is pleased with today’s announcement from our U.S. partners in cleaning up the Great Lakes and we look forward to collaboration in every way with this newly created task force to expand and intensify our efforts to restore, protect and preserve the global treasure called the Great Lakes.” For more information, please contact: Sébastien Bois Media Relations Environment Canada (819) 953-4016
