Tamara Baluja's report on the Great Lakes initiative

Listen to Tamara Baluja's report.

The Ontario government signed an agreement with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence cities initiative in Toronto While the announcement was short on specific details on what issues would be discusses, and how exactly municipal governments will be involved, Ontario Minister of Environment John Gerretson says the Great Lakes Pact ensures decisions about the Great Lakes will not be made without municipal input.

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence cities initiative is a bi-national group of mayors from both sides of the Great Lakes.

Mayor David Miller says that as the host of this conference, he feels very proud that Ontario has signed the Great Lakes Pact. Miller says cities are the solution to the Great Lakes protection, and therefore should be involved at every step of the process.  

Miller says constructive dialogue between municipalities and other levels of government is necessary to ensure the best possible results for the Great Lakes.

Chicago Mayer Richard Daley says this agreement is way ahead of anything that the US has and he hopes a similar agreement can also be reached there between there.