The recent signing of an agreement between elected officials along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River is a key step towards highlighting the importance of building community relationships across Canada and the U.S., a member of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) says.
The EOWC and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSL) have signed a memorandum of understanding agreement (MOU) to enter into a partnership.
It’s a move that sets the framework for building relationships and advancing key priorities, Northumberland County warden and EOWC member Brian Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.
“The impetus for this agreement stemmed from recognizing the critical need for collaboration among municipalities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River,” Ostrander explained.
“The MOU provides a formal framework that fosters partnerships aimed at enhancing community relationships across Canada and the U.S., which is essential for addressing shared challenges related to climate change, economic development, and social resilience.”
Ostrander said the GLSL has been “instrumental” in supporting smaller communities like the Municipality of Brighton, especially during the flooding events of 2017 and 2019, by facilitating engagement with key organizations like the International Joint Commission, a binational organization established by the U.S. and Canada to prevent and resolve disputes over the use and quality of shared boundary waters.
“This cooperation has proven invaluable in navigating the complexities of water management and environmental challenges,” Ostrander said.
On a regional level, the agreement between EOWC and GLSL will enhance their collective capacity to address climate issues, promote sustainable practices, and bolster their economies.
“By working together, we can leverage resources, share best practices, and create vibrant sustainable communities across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region,” Ostrander said.
“I’m proud to be a part of this partnership,” Ostrander said. “As Northumberland warden, I hope that we can nurture the partnership at the county level to an even greater level and I look forward to the opportunities it will bring for our communities.”
The EOWC is an incorporated non-profit organization comprised of the head of councils of 13 municipalities in eastern Ontario, including 11 upper-tier counties and two single-tier municipalities, and supports and advocates on behalf of its 90 local municipalities and 800,000 residents across the region.
Founded in 2003 by former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and former Toronto mayor David Miller, the GLSL is a coalition of Canadian and American municipal and Indigenous government executives. With 120 member municipalities of all sizes from around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, the initiative represents over 14 million people.
Headquartered in Chicago with staff in Toronto and Montreal, GLSL actively works with federal, state, and provincial governments to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem through the development and implementation of a comprehensive Great Lakes protection and restoration plan.
The coalition will also call upon the U.S. Congress and Canadian parliament to appropriate funds for the development, by an independent panel of science and policy experts including member mayors, of the Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Plan.
“This plan will be updated as various issues arise and will serve as a blueprint to guide agreed-upon future legislative and appropriations activities that restore and protect the Great Lakes ecosystem,” GLSL states on its website.
