Whereas the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River are the world’s largest freshwater resource encompassing 20% of the world’s surface freshwater and is the source of drinking water for 40 million people in U.S. and Canadian cities

Whereas investments are needed to respond to the enormous challenges such as eutrophication of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and assistance in adapting to climate change, protecting shorelines, preserving wetlands, coastal habitat and improving water quality.

Whereas the Brookings Institute estimated that municipalities currently invest more than 15 billion annually to protect and restore the Great Lakes and that a 26 billion dollar investment in the Great Lakes provides a $50 billion return in economic benefits.

Whereas investment in restoration and life supporting assets are essential to complement the major investments needed to address the multi billion dollar deficit for water infrastructure in both counties.

Whereas Canada and the United States share this expansive freshwater resource and therefore also share the responsibility to protect and restore this life supporting, valuable asset

Whereas the U.S. government has made a commitment to invest $475 million for restoration projects in the Great Lakes Region, in 2010. which represents $15.00 per year for each of the 32 million Americans living in the Great Lakes basin,.

Therefore the Town of Ajax supports the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative call for the Canadian federal government to match the U.S. Great Lakes investments on a per capita basis by committing $15.00 per year for every one of the 19 million Great Lakes and St. Lawrence citizens for a total of $285 million per year.

And that this motion be circulated to the Prime Minisiter, Minister of the Environment, Opposition Leaders and Environmental Critics, AMO, Conservation Ontario, Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, Durham Region