June 23, 2015
Ontario, Alberta Join Manitoba in Precedent-Setting Coalition to Improve Water Quality
– – –Ontario, Alberta Sign Lake Friendly Accord, Building on Momentum to Protect Lakes, Waterways: Minister Nevakshonoff
Ontario and Alberta have officially joined Manitoba in a broad alliance working to address cross-border water quality issues by signing the Lake Friendly Accord, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Tom Nevakshonoff, and Rick Gamble, chair of the South Basin Mayors and Reeves, announced today.
“There are many opportunities for different jurisdictions to work together on this issue because nutrient loading poses one of the most serious threats to water quality across North America,” said Minister Nevakshonoff. “We are looking forward to working closely with Ontario and Alberta to ensure both provinces are implementing the most effective solutions available.”
Ontario and Alberta become the first provinces to join Manitoba in signing this vitally important accord, Nevakshonoff said. By signing, Ontario has pledged to undertake numerous actions to reduce nutrient loading in the Lake of the Woods area, Lake Simcoe and the Laurentian Great Lakes. Alberta has agreed to a similar pledge to address the issue of nutrient loading in its watershed.
“Ontario is taking strong action to restore the health of our lakes,” said Ontario Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray. “The Lake Friendly Accord is just one of the ways we’re working with national and international partners to help keep our lakes drinkable, swimmable and fishable.”
“Alberta strongly supports enhanced measures and opportunities for collaboration in protecting water quality,” said Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips. “We look forward to the opportunity to exchange information and best practices while further reducing pollution in our shared waterways.”
The addition of these two provinces to the accord will allow for greater sharing of best management practices, innovative technologies, and successful sharing of information and strategies between the provinces and all partners in the Lake Friendly Stewards Alliance, Minister Nevakshonoff noted.
The Manitoba government and the South Basin Mayors and Reeves first partnered in June 2013 to announce the Lake Friendly Accord and the Lake Friendly Stewards Alliance. The goal of these initiatives is to foster collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen loading to waterways in Manitoba and beyond.
“The South Basin Mayors and Reeves recognize that we need to engage a diverse range of partners to reduce nutrient loading in Lake Winnipeg,” said Gamble, who is also co-chair of the Lake Friendly Stewards Alliance. “We have much to learn from and much to offer our neighbours to the east and our friends to the west as we welcome them as signatories to the accord.”
The Lake Friendly Accord was signed on March 21, 2014, by the South Basin Mayors and Reeves and the governments of Canada and Manitoba. Minnesota became the first international government to sign on Jan. 20, 2015. Other signatories to the accord include the Red River Basin Commission, the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, Manitoba Hydro, the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Water Resources Association.
For more information on the Lake Friendly Accord, visit www.manitoba.ca/lakefriendlyaccordor www.lakefriendly.ca.
- 30 -