| Another
positive result of the Agreement is the commitment by both
governments to restore environmental quality to Great Lakes'
"Areas of Concern." Since 11000, the Government
of Canada has funded over 700 projects through various programs.
And those investments are already paying off. For example,
contaminated sediment remediation efforts were recently
completed in Thunder Bay Harbour at one of Canada's most
contaminated sites. This effort addressed a legacy of toxic
chemicals generated by a nearby wood preserving operation
over 60 years. Other sites, Collingwood Harbour and Severn
Sound, for example, have been fully restored while recovery
is being monitored at Spanish Harbour, where necessary actions
toward restoration have been completed. The
Great Lakes ecosystem has seen many improvements thanks
to initiatives born of this agreement. Already the Lakes
are cleaner than a generation ago, especially in the area
of chemical pollution, one of the most serious threats.
However, continuing commitment is
needed. Drinking water is safe, but we must keep contaminants
out. Most beaches are safe for swimming, but at times
bacteria levels are still too high. Most fish are safe
to eat, although a significant portion remains unfit for
consumption. Some fish species like lake trout are recovering,
but others such as walleye are declining. Wildlife populations
like bald eagles are growing, but the marsh wren population,
for example, is shrinking. And more than 160 damaging
aquatic invasive species have entered the Great Lakes
and more continue to arrive.
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
— You can help reshape it
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is reviewed every
six years. And this year, 2005, marks the latest review
of the Agreement – a process designed to ensure that the
GLWQA meets the needs of the Great Lakes well into the
21st century.
And, your participation is needed!
Public input is a key element to the overall success of
the review process and gives you an opportunity not only
to comment on the operation and effectiveness of the Agreement,
but also to play a role in shaping the Great Lakes' future.
At the request of the governments of Canada and the United
States, the International Joint Commission is holding
public meetings on how well the GLWQA has worked so far.
The meetings will take place in 14
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River cities this fall. Visit
the International Joint Commission Web site for more information
on how you can get involved, including locations and dates
of upcoming meetings.
When a group of students at King City
Secondary School in Ontario got together to organize a
school recycling program, they were amazed at the results.
They increased the number of recycling bins, painted them
to make them look more colourful and visible, and worked
with school administrators to schedule recycling times.
The result? A 400 per cent increase in recycling at school!
Projects like these can happen anywhere.
With a little bit of effort, small changes can lead to
big results. And it all starts with the 3Rs – Reduce,
Reuse, and Recycle.
The 3Rs are what Waste Reduction Week
is all about. Under the slogan "Too Good to Waste",
this week aims to inform Canadians about wasteful practices
and their environmental and social consequences, as well
as to encourage us all to take action against excess waste.
Waste reduction is everyone's concern
and each Canadian should take part. On average, Canadians
produce their own weight's worth in garbage every month.
That gives Canada the distinction of producing more waste
per person than any other country on earth.
The good news is that making small
changes in our daily habits can be easy and reduce waste
considerably. Just imagine that in Ontario alone, 400
000 tonnes of cans – enough for a garbage dump the size
of Toronto's Sky Dome – have been saved from the landfill
since 1985 because of successful recycling programs. By
recycling just one pop can, you save as much energy as
a television set needs to run for three hours!
Waste Reduction Week is for everyone,
from individuals and schools to businesses, neighbourhoods,
and municipalities. It offers a great chance to learn
about the connection between our choices and the environment,
to practice waste reduction for the first time, or to
find new ways to reduce even more waste.
Visit the Waste Reduction Week website
to register your activity or to get some ideas on what
you can do. You will also learn interesting waste reduction
facts, including more about the 3Rs. The website lists
local event details across Canada as well as waste reduction
games and activities, and has a great tool for helping
you measure the size of your ecological footprint.
Remember, the ultimate goal is waste-free
living and waste reduction is something you can practice
year round! Reducing the amount of waste you create will
save energy and help cut pollution and greenhouse gases.
Your actions can help turn Canada from a big garbage maker
into a resource saver. |
