On June 16, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSCI) endorsed the Town of Ajax’s resolution aimed at protecting lake waters from an invasion of Asian Carp. The resolution, passed at the May 9 Council meeting, calls on Canada’s Foreign Affairs to host a public hearing in Canada where Canadian municipalities, other stakeholders and members of the public would be able to learn about the impacts of invasive Asian Carp on shared international waters.

The movement of Asian Carp (an aquatic nuisance species) into the Great Lakes poses a significant threat to the health and welfare of Canadians and Americans. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was authorized by U.S. Congress in 2007 to prevent the movement of aquatic species between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes Basin.

“The time has come to take decisive, coordinated actions to protect the Great Lakes from reaching the avoidable, irreversible ecological “tipping point” that is anticipated to result from an Asian Carp invasion,” said Regional Councillor Colleen Jordan, who moved the recommendation. “The public should be afforded an opportunity to convey their views about the serious adverse impacts of Asian Carp, on recreational activities and commercial fisheries.”

“There is shared widespread concern about the threats that invasive Asian Carp would pose to ecological conditions, habitat and recreational activities along Great Lakes and St. Lawrence shorelines and tributaries,” said Councillor Pat Brown, who seconded the motion.

Now that the resolution has been adopted by the GLSCI, it will be sent to the U.S. Department of State with a request that Foreign Affairs host a public hearing in Canada.

At the same meeting, the GLSCI called on the American and Canadian Federal Governments to build on the U.S. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and local investments by making a bi-national sustainable commitment to the region, supported by long term funding.

Investments are needed to respond to the enormous challenges facing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence and local communities. These include the eutrophication of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, adapting cities to climate change, protecting shorelines, and preserving wetlands and other coastal habitat areas. This infusion of life-supporting assets and programs would be complementary to major investments that are needed to address the multi-billion dollar deficit for water infrastructure in both countries.

TOWN OF AJAX, 65 Harwood Ave. S., Ajax ON L1S 2H9

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