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Protecting our water through international cooperation

Originally established in 1972 by the governments of Canada and the United States, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) set a precedent for protection of internationally shared waters. Over the past 36 years, the Agreement has driven important public health and water quality improvements for the residents of the Great Lakes, such as phosphorus reductions and cuts in toxic pollution. Today, experts point to the Agreement as critical in calling for the “zero discharge” and “virtual elimination” of toxic pollutants that harm our families, fish, and wildlife.

Although much has been achieved under the Agreement, it is generally agreed that its potential has not been fulfilled and that much more needs to be done to protect and restore the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

In September 2007, the federal governments completed a two-year-long review of the Agreement. The two federal governments will now make the critical decisions on whether and how to revise the Agreement. Depending on whether the governments decide to revise it, this process could spread out over the next couple of years.

Great Lakes United and those that we have been working with around the basin believe that now is the time to revitalize the GLWQA by significantly updating it, provided the governments make a commitment not to weaken provisions currently in the Agreement and commit to full public involvement in the decisions regarding changes to the GLWQA.

We believe that the Agreement should remain focused on water quality issues, but should be broadened to include a wider array of those factors that negatively affect water quality. This would include items such as invasive species, pollutants of recent concern (endocrine disruptors, flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, nanoparticles), air pollution from sources beyond the Great Lakes basin, radionuclides, groundwater pollution, fish farms, intensive agricultural operations, urban development, water levels and climate change.

Other changes to the Agreement should include strengthened public involvement mechanisms, and recognition of the role of the Tribes, First Nations, Metis, provinces, states and local governments in Agreement activities. Also the entire St. Lawrence River should be included in the Agreement. Commitments in the GLWQA should have specific targets and timetables to foster enforceability and accountability.

Our main goal from the review and possible revision of the GLWQA is to revitalize it by drawing public and political attention back to the Agreement. To help in achieving this, the governments should state their commitment to the existing or revised Agreement in a high profile manner.

© 2008 Great Lakes News.