Moved by Councillor Desjarlais, seconded by _______________
Whereas algal blooms in Lake Erie threaten its natural and economic resources by negatively impacting the use of water for drinking, fishing, boating and swimming; and
Whereas Lake Erie experienced the largest harmful algal bloom in its history in 2015; and
Whereas toxins from algal blooms can cause severe health issues; and
Whereas communities that depend on Lake Erie as a source for drinking water have made significant investments to ensure it is free from dangerous levels of algal toxins and nuisance algae; and
Whereas algal blooms limit the enjoyment of Lake Erie beaches and other recreational water activities; and
Whereas, local tourism, commercial and residential property values and the commercial and recreational fishing industry may be negatively affected due to the presence of algal blooms; and
Whereas, the United States recently announced a proposal to cut funding to the Environmental Protection Agency that pays 97 percent of the costs for Great Lakes pollution cleanup thereby putting the future health of the Great Lakes in danger,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ontario Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Mayors of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative BE REQUESTED to lobby U.S. State representatives to overturn the decision by the U.S. federal government to drastically reduce spending on the health of the Great Lakes, and that a copy of this resolution BE FORWARDED to local MP’s and MPP’s to request support of the initiative.