Order in Council 566/2021

On the recommendation of the undersigned, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, by and with the advice and concurrence of the Executive Council of Ontario, orders that:

Whereas clause 4 (1) (j) of the Environmental Protection Act provides that the Minister of the Environment Conservation and Parks for the purposes of the administration and enforcement of the Act and the regulations, may, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with any government or person relating to the protection or conservation of the natural environment;

And whereas since 1971 the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada have worked together through a series of Canada-Ontario Agreements respecting the Great Lakes that have guided their efforts to improve the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes, and contributed to meeting Canada’s obligations under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement;

And whereas Section 33 of the Government of Ontario’s Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015 (GLPA) requires the consideration of agreements between Canada and Ontario that relate to the protection or restoration of the ecological health of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin, including the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health when reviewing Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy, establishing targets, and developing and amending initiatives under the GLPA.

And whereas the Minister of the Environment Conservation and Parks recommends that the Government of Ontario enter into a new Canada-Ontario Agreement with the Government of Canada to restore, protect and conserve the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes in order to assist in achieving the vision of a healthy, prosperous and sustainable region for present and future generations;

And whereas the signatories to the proposed agreement between the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada entitled Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2021(the Agreement) are the Ministers of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, and Natural Resources and Forestry.

And whereas the Agreement is attached as Schedule A; Now therefore:

Pursuant to clause 4 (1) (j) of the Environmental Protection Act, the execution by the Minister of the Environment Conservation and Parks of the attached Agreement is approved.

Schedule A - Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2021