Priority – engaging communities from awareness to action

Annex 11: from awareness to action

The purpose of this annex is to provide opportunities for local community action for the restoration, protection and conservation of the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes are an essential part of everyday life for the people who live along their shores and in the watersheds. They provide our drinking water, food and electricity, and moderate our climate. They provide recreation and tourism opportunities and connect us with our heritage. Their natural beauty nourishes our spirit. They are the economic backbone of Ontario. Ensuring that the Great Lakes are healthy, and that resources are managed sustainably, is of vital importance to both the lakes and the people who live and work here.

Despite the many benefits of living in the Great Lakes basin, many inhabitants are unaware of the connections among their activities, their quality of life and the health of the lakes. Everyone has a role to play in protecting, restoring and conserving the lakes through local actions. Increased information, education and awareness of the Great Lakes will increase overall appreciation for the Great Lakes and will motivate individuals to get involved. Local community action will help to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes while working to prevent new problems from arising and furthering the opportunities to enjoy all that the Great Lakes have to offer. Enhanced engagement of the Great Lakes community from all sectors will help to achieve shared Great Lakes outcomes.

Canada and Ontario have a range of initiatives to increase awareness and provide support for local community initiatives and will continue to engage the Great Lakes community on a good governance basis. The Great Lakes community has long contributed to the restoration, protection and conservation of the lakes. This annex seeks to continue these efforts and to include a broad range of Canadians in dialogue, planning and priority setting, and activities that build awareness, expand Great Lakes experiences and encourage action on Great Lakes issues.

Result 1

Enhance engagement of the Great Lakes community through priority setting and working in partnership in the delivery of agreement commitments.

Canada and Ontario will:

1. Increase awareness and knowledge of the Great Lakes and engagement in their protection through: use of online engagement platforms and social media; State of the Great Lakes reports; Lakewide Action and Management Plans (LAMPs); actions to restore areas of concern; the implementation of the Lake Erie Action Plan; and other activities; and
2. Connect and inspire park visitors, residents of surrounding communities and students to the Great Lakes through events and programs at provincial and national parks, national marine conservation areas and protected areas (e.g., Ontario Parks Discovery Program, Healthy Parks Healthy People initiative), and by providing opportunities to participate in stewardship activities, citizen science initiatives and sustainable nature-based recreation.

Canada will:

3. Convene a binational Great Lakes Public Forum to discuss and receive comments on the state of the lakes and binational priorities for science and action;
4. Support enhanced public engagement in Great Lakes issues through citizen science under the Great Lakes Protection Initiative; and
5. Encourage and support community projects and initiatives to help restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes through the delivery of the Great Lakes Protection Initiative and the EcoAction Community Fund.

Ontario will:

6. Encourage and support community projects that take action to help restore, protect, conserve and experience the Great Lakes, including projects that tackle specific issues such as building climate resiliency, tackling plastic pollution and litter clean-ups, reducing excess road salt, reducing harmful algae blooms, and other issues;
7. Work with school boards, school administrators and teachers to support the use of proven models and other opportunities that use the Great Lakes as a context for teaching and learning; and
8. Raise awareness and appreciation of the Great Lakes through communication of Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy Progress Report, Strategy review and other mechanisms, and convene a Great Lakes Guardians’ Council meeting at least once per year to discuss priorities for Great Lakes action.

Result 2

Economic growth linked to opportunities derived from sustainable tourism and recreation dependent on the Great Lakes.

Ontario will:

1. Identify opportunities for participation, linkages and efficiencies to better implement waterfront revitalization and promotion of the Great Lakes as a destination for visitors;
2. Encourage increased public access to waterfront areas where possible, to enhance community and tourist appreciation for the Great Lakes;
3. Continue to support waterfront festivals, sporting events, tourist experiences and heritage attractions (which include built heritage resources, archaeological resources, and landscapes of cultural heritage value) that build Great Lakes engagement and foster sustainable shoreline use;
4. Continue to promote and support sustainable waterfront trail systems that link communities and support local economies around the Great Lakes through walking, cycling and other trail activities; and
5. Work with the cruise ship industry to capitalize on and further enhance the Great Lakes cruising industry in order to attract more visitors and generate more economic activity.

Annex 12: Métis and the Great Lakes

The purpose of this annex is to reflect the interests and important role of Métis as contributors to the restoration, protection and conservation of the Great Lakes.

Canada and Ontario work together with Métis on a good governance basis on a wide range of environmental protection issues. This agreement supports opportunities for Métis, as members of the broader Great Lakes community, to participate in and contribute to Great Lakes restoration, protection and conservation initiatives. This annex will provide a framework for Canada and Ontario to engage with Métis in the implementation of this agreement and to consider their traditional ecological knowledge to assist in restoring, protecting and conserving Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.

The preambular “Whereas” recitals of this agreement provide further reference to Métis within the overall context of this agreement.

Result 1

Métis actively engage in decision-making processes and take actions to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes.

Canada and Ontario will:

1. Invite Métis to meet annually with COA Executive Committee co-chairs to discuss Great Lakes issues, as well as priorities and actions planned to achieve the purpose of this agreement;
2. Together with Métis, develop a process to engage Métis in decision-making and the application of traditional ecological knowledge, when offered, as it relates to assessing lake status, identifying priorities for science and action, and taking action to address issues on a lakewide basis;
3. Together with Métis, develop and implement a process to engage Métis on remediation of areas of concern (AOCs), and decisions on beneficial use impairment delisting and AOC delisting or designation as an AOC in recovery, taking into consideration traditional ecological knowledge, when offered;
4. Provide opportunities for Métis to engage in the implementation of this agreement and contribute to the restoration, protection and conservation of the Great Lakes;
5. Support the capacity building of Métis organizations and communities to address Great Lakes issues, including through the application of traditional ecological knowledge;
6. Encourage and support Métis community projects and initiatives, including those related to traditional ecological knowledge, to help restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes through applicable programs; and
7. Invite Métis representatives to participate in COA Executive Committee meetings.

Result 2

Great Lakes fish consumption advisories are appropriate for the protection of Métis communities.

Canada and Ontario will:

1. Engage with interested Métis to reduce the exposure to harmful pollutants of Métis communities that rely on Great Lakes fish as an important nutritional source for their diet, by ensuring that their specific consumption habits are considered, as well as that advisories that are developed are appropriate for these communities, and are communicated appropriately.

Annex 13: First Nations and the Great Lakes

The purpose of this annex is to reflect the interests and important role of First Nations as contributors to the restoration, protection and conservation of the Great Lakes.

There are many First Nations communities within the Great Lakes basin. First Nations value their spiritual and cultural relationship to the waters of the Great Lakes. They contribute to the protection of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health through the wise use and management of land and water in their communities.

Canada and Ontario work together with First Nations on a good governance basis on a wide range of environmental protection issues. This agreement supports opportunities for First Nations, as members of the broader Great Lakes community, to participate in and contribute to Great Lakes restoration, protection and conservation initiatives. This annex will provide a framework for Canada and Ontario to engage with First Nations in the implementation of this agreement and to consider their traditional ecological knowledge to assist in restoring, protecting and conserving Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.

The preambular “Whereas” recitals of this agreement provide further reference to First Nations within the overall context of this agreement.

Result 1

First Nations actively engage in decision-making processes and take actions to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes.

Canada and Ontario will:

1. Invite First Nations to meet annually with COA Executive Committee co-chairs to discuss Great Lakes issues, as well as priorities and actions planned to achieve the purpose of this agreement;
2. Together with First Nations, develop a process to engage First Nations in decision-making and the application of traditional ecological knowledge, when offered, as it relates to assessing lake status, identifying priorities for science and action, and taking action to address issues on a lakewide basis;
3. Together with First Nations, develop and implement a process to engage First Nations on remediation of areas of concern (AOCs), decisions on beneficial use impairment delisting and AOC delisting or designation as an AOC in recovery, taking into consideration traditional ecological knowledge, when offered;
4. Provide opportunities for First Nations to engage in the implementation of this Agreement and contribute to the restoration, protection and conservation of the Great Lakes;
5. Support the capacity building of First Nations organizations and communities to address Great Lakes issues, including through the application of traditional ecological knowledge;
6. Encourage and support First Nations community projects and initiatives, including those related to traditional ecological knowledge, to help restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes through applicable programs; and
7. Invite First Nations representatives to participate in COA Executive Committee meetings.

Result 2

Great Lakes fish consumption advisories are appropriate for the protection of First Nations communities.

Canada and Ontario will:

1. Engage with interested First Nations to reduce the exposure to harmful pollutants of First Nations communities that rely on Great Lakes fish as an important nutritional source for their diet, by ensuring that their specific consumption habits are considered, as well as that advisories that are developed are appropriate for these communities, and are communicated appropriately.