January
27, 2003
The Honorable Colin
Powell
Secretary of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
The Honourable Bill
Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G2
Dear Mr. Powell and Mr. Graham:
On behalf of Great Lakes
United I am writing to support
a reference from the governments
of the United States and Canada
to the International Joint
Commission to address the
need for coordination and
harmonization of invasive
species prevention and control.
In the 11th biennial report,
the IJC requested a reference
from the two governments "to
coordinate and manage invasive
species for the Great Lakes."
Binational leadership on this
issue is sorely needed.
We would like to stress the
following points:
The lack of federal leadership
has repercussions on the public's
ability to focus its support,
energy and resources behind
progressive and preventative
initiatives.
Biological pollution prevention
must be the priority in efforts
initiated by the United States
and Canada to address aquatic
invasive species.
Short-term stop-gap measures
tailors specifically to the
Great Lakes should be taken
to prevent new introductions
We strongly support the call
for a reference to provide
binational leadership to address
the most critical environmental
crisis facing the Great Lakes
today.
CC:
The Right Honorable Herb Gray,
Canadian Section Chair, International
Joint Commission
Mr. Dennis Schornack, U.S.
Section Chair, International
Joint Commission
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