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The Great Lakes Protection Act is proposed legislation that, if passed, would help restore and protect the Great Lakes so they stay drinkable, swimmable, fishable, for us, and for future generations.

If passed, this enabling act would:

• provide new tools for the Ontario government to protect Great Lakes beaches, wetlands and other coastal areas
  • Specific actions would be determined through consultation with municipalities, First Nations and Métis communities, stakeholders and the public
• authorize the Minister of the Environment to set targets, and authorize the development and implementation of initiatives to address particular Great Lakes problems
• establish a Great Lakes Guardians’ Council which would:
  • be led by the Minister of the Environment and would include other ministers with Great Lakes responsibilities, as well as representatives including First Nations and Métis communities, Ontario ministries, municipalities, environmental groups, science community, farmers, industry, recreation and tourism sectors
  • identify provincial Great Lakes improvement priorities, and focus resources on addressing them
• work with an ever-evolving Great Lakes Strategy, which was posted for public comment.
• be accompanied by a new Great Lakes community action fund to help grassroots community groups undertake improvement projects in their corner of the Great Lakes
  • The Ministry of the Environment will issue an invitation to apply for community action grants later this year.

	Read the proposed act