<html><head></head><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue-Light, Helvetica Neue Light, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023774906_4773" dir="ltr">FYI</div><br> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, Helvetica Neue Light, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023774906_4747"> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023774906_4746"> <div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023774906_4745"> ----- Forwarded Message -----<br> <font size="2" face="Arial"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> "Minister, MOECC (MOECC)" <Minister.MOECC@ontario.ca><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> "info@gren.ca" <info@gren.ca> <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Friday, October 16, 2015 3:20 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Great Lakes Protection Act<br> </font> </div> <div class="y_msg_container" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023774906_4795"><br><div id="yiv4080809202">
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023774906_4823">Thank you to everyone whose contributions have helped make progress on Great Lakes protection and restoration over the last few years. We have heard from many of you about the vital importance
of the Great Lakes and about how proposed Great Lakes legislation can best make a difference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">It is my great pleasure to let you know that the Ontario Legislature has taken action to keep the Great Lakes drinkable, fishable and swimmable by passing a strengthened Great Lakes Protection
Act.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">This new legislation will:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1445023774906_4796">Help fight climate change, reduce harmful algal blooms, protect wetlands and watersheds, and reduce harmful pollutants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Establish a Great Lakes Guardians’ Council to provide a forum for discussion and collaboration on Great Lakes issues and priorities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Enshrine Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy, the Province’s action plan on the Great Lakes, as a living document to be reviewed every six years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Help ensure monitoring programs and reporting processes are in place to improve understanding and management of the ecological health of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
Basin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Support setting targets and create new tools to take action with local partners in priority areas on pressing issues.</span></div>
<div class="yiv4080809202MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font:7.0pt;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Require consideration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge if offered by First Nations or Métis communities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">A copy of the Great Lakes Protection Act may be found
</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=3115"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">. Additional information
on the Act can be found </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2015/10/ontario-strengthens-environmental-protections-for-the-great-lakes.html"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">This latest action – combined with our ongoing investments in Great Lakes protection – will help ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the benefits of a healthy Great Lakes system.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">We look forward to continuing to work with communities across Ontario on our shared interest in Great Lakes protection and restoration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Glen Murray</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Minister</span></div>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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