The purposes of the present Act are: a) to protect and restore the ecological health of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin; and b) to create opportunities for individuals and communities to become involved in the protection and restoration of the ecological health of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin. The afore-mentioned purposes include the following: 1) To protect human health and well-being through the protection and restoration of water quality, hydrologic functions and the ecological health of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin, including through the elimination or reduction of harmful pollutants; 2) To protect and restore watersheds, wetlands, beaches, shorelines and coastal areas of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin; 3) To protect and restore the natural habitats and biodiversity of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin; 4) To protect and improve the capacity of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin to respond to the impacts and causes of climate change; 5) To improve understanding and management of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin by advancing science and promoting the consideration of traditional ecological knowledge relating to existing and emerging stressors and by establishing and maintaining monitoring and reporting programs or other actions with respect to the ecological conditions of the Basin; 6) To enrich the quality of life in communities in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin through support of environmentally sustainable economic opportunities, innovation and environmentally sustainable use of natural resources. The text consists of 41 sections divided into 8 Parts as follows: Purposes and interpretation (I); Great Lakes Guardian Council (II); Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy (III); Targets (IV); Proposals for initiatives (V); Initiatives (VI); Miscellaneous (VII); Commencement and short title (VIII). Three Schedules are enclosed.
Canada · 2015-11-03