Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
A plea for the water at your feet
March 22 is “World Water Day,” the international day to think about water issues. It is also the first-ever meeting of the Great Lakes Guardians Council, a new advisory group created under the Great Lakes Protection Act. And we're honoured that Waterkeeper Mark Mattson has been invited by Ontario Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray to participate.
2015 Case Review: Where do we stand at the end of the year?
With 2015 drawing to a close, what better time to look back at the events most affecting the lake? We looked at our newsletters, case summaries, and web traffic this year and compiled a list of the issues that caught your attention in 2015. Grab a coffee and enjoy the recap!
The Great Lakes Protect Act passed… Now what do we do?
Many people reached out to us after the Great Lakes Protection Act passed asking what it really means for the Great Lakes. Will the law really make things better? How will it work? What should we do now? The answer is pretty simple: More work (and a bit of fun).
Ontario passes “swim drink fish” law to protect the Great Lakes
Ontario’s future is closely linked to the health of the Great Lakes. Those waterbodies feed our farms, quench our cities’ thirst, fuel industry, and form the backdrop for our social lives. So it was pretty exciting when Waterkeeper Mark Mattson stepped into the Ontario legislature on October 7, 2015 to witness the passage of the Great Lakes Protection Act.
We told the Ontario Gov't to pass the Great Lakes Protection Act (and here's why)
Bill 66, the Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015 was re-introduced to legislation to help protect and restore the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin. On September 23, 2015, nine organizations, including Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, gave 5-minute presentations to the Standing Committee on General Government summarizing why they support the Act. This is Waterkeeper Mark Mattson's presentation.
The Great Lakes Protection Act is here
This morning, I was fortunate to attend a special conference held by Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Glen Murray. The announcement: The Great Lakes Protection Act will be reintroduced to Ontario’s legislation.
Can Canada do more for the Great Lakes? Yes, absolutely
Waterkeeper thinks that Canada and Ontario can do more. We think the Great Lakes need more. And so that’s what we said.
Need a Source? Waterkeeper can help you cover the Great Lakes Protection Act hearings
If Queen’s Park is your beat then you know the Great Lakes Protection Act (GLPA) subcommittee hearing happened today. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is enthusiastic about the GLPA and its mission of “drinkable, swimmable, fishable” water. Read Mark Mattson’s full presentation to the Standing Committee.
Great Lakes Protection Act hearing, presentation by Waterkeeper
Mark Mattson offers three reasons why the proposed law will be good for the Great Lakes, including this one: the Great Lakes need all the help they can get.
Waterkeeper comments on Ontario's Great Lakes Strategy and Great Lakes Protection Act
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper supports the aims of the Great Lakes Strategy and the Great Lakes Protection Act. We agree that Great Lakes protection requires support from a range of government ministries including those concerned with environment, tourism, and industry. We support a strategy that underpins and guides provincial decision-making resulting in meaningful restoration and protection of the Great Lakes.