WASHINGTON — Long before climate change was a major concern, the Great Lakes of North America were a waste ground, a toxic monument of industrial excess on either coast of the Canada-U.S. border.
Three decades later, North America’s largest freshwater source is back in the spotlight. This is at least partly due to the political woes and actions of a certain U.S. president.
Joe Biden, facing a Republican reckoning for November’s Midterm Elections, marked one year of his inauguration with a promise to get out from the White House and brag about his legislative wins.
Biden said, “I’m going out of this place less often.” “I’m going make the case about what we’ve done, why it’s important and what will happen if I get their support for what else I want.”
So it was that Biden, who was in Lorain, Ohio last month, announced plans to spend US$1 Billion on what he called “the most significant restoration of this resource” in the history of the Great Lakes.
This money is only a fraction of the $1.2-trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was promoted by the White House throughout 2022 after the preChristmas collapse of what was supposed the crowning achievement of this administration: The $2-trillion climate- and social spending package known As the Build Back better bill.
Biden stated, “Three decades ago, we made this promise.” “There was a lot to talk about, many plans, but very little progress. It was slow. This has changed today.”
The effort will target 22 of 25 problem areas, also known as “areas in concern,” on the U.S. shore of the lakes. This is a level that experts, advocates, activists and activists have been clamouring since the 1990s.
“That’s an enormous thing, you know?” John Hartig, a U.S-born conservation scientist, is currently a visiting scholar at University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research.
Hartig is widely recognized as one of the most respected experts on Great Lakes remediation. He was born in Detroit and became the first graduate to earn a PhD from the institute over 35 years ago.
“Money makes everything go,” you say. You need resources to do this, not just talk about. These are significant investments.
Canadians can expect the same. They hope that the U.S.’s latest ambitions will increase pressure on Ontario and federal governments to complete what they started.
It’s already happening: Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault will hold a news conference Wednesday near Hamilton Harbour with David Piccini, his Ontario counterpart David Piccini, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.
He’ll announce that Randle Reef has been deemed the most dangerous area on the Canadian side. Thanks to the combined efforts by the two governments, it is now fully contained in a multimillion dollar-engineered containment facility.
Three other areas of concern Collingwood Harbour, Severn Sound, and Wheatley Harbour were all fully restored. Additionally, necessary remedial actions have been taken in Spanish Harbour, Jackfish Bay, and Jackfish Bay.
The federal government has a responsibility to protect the lakes under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. It dates back to 1972 and was renewed in 2012. There is also a new agreement with Ontario that went into effect last June.
This agreement gives Ottawa and Ontario until 2026 to shore up six other areas of concern within Ontario, including Nipigon Bay (Peninsula Harbour), Peninsula Harbour Niagara River, Port Hope Harbour Harbour, the Bay of Quinte as well the St. Lawrence River.
The federal government will also spend C$17.4million over the next 2 years to work together with Indigenous Peoples, Canadian provinces and territories and other stakeholders to establish a Canada Water Agency which would support the cleanup efforts.
Environment and Climate Change Canada released a statement saying that these actions would contribute to the long-term goal to delist the remaining (areas) of concern and ensure that environmental improvements achieved through… are sustained.
Hartig cited a 2018 study Biden also mentioned: A University of Michigan study on the impact of cleanup investments made by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative between 2010 and 2016. This multi-agency taskforce was established in 2004 by then-president George W. Bush.
These are the results. It was well spent.
Hartig stated that for every dollar you spend on these projects, you will receive $3.35 in economic activity through 2035, which includes economic redevelopment. “That’s a pretty high return on investment for any place, really.”
Hartig stated that Canada has not been behind the U.S. in terms of habitat rehabilitation along the shores Lake Ontario near Toronto.
He stated that the next step was the so-called “Action Plan To Protect the Great Lakes”, which is a 10-year, multi-billion-dollar effort to protect them from climate change, pollution, toxins, algal blooms, and contaminated beaches.
Hartig said that he hopes that Biden’s investment, along with Canada’s progress to date will make that a priority soon.
Hartig stated that “I think it is going to be an inducement to take a closer look at the plan.”
“Investing to protect the Great Lakes is also investing in communities of the Great Lakes. It is a valuable resource. So yeah, I think they will be able to take a hard look at that.”
Ontario provided $1.9 Million through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund for 44 projects that were led by communities-based organizations, municipalities and conservation authorities. This fund was established to support restoration and protection of the Great Lakes shoreline, nearshore, and coastal areas.
Additional $1.9 million in provincial funds will be available to support local projects “to help preserve and improve the Great Lakes’ health and their connecting watersheds, for future generations.”
This report was published by The Canadian Press on March 9, 2022.
