On July 9, federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced the launch of public consultations on the recommended phosphorus reduction targets for Lake Erie. The development of reduction targets are a key feature of the Canada-United States Great Lakes Quality Agreement, signed in 2012.

“The Great Lakes are a vast shared resource containing a significant portion of the world’s fresh water,” Aglukkaq said. “They provide the foundation for billions of dollars in economic activity, and they are a direct source of drinking water for millions of Canadians. The phosphorus reduction targets being proposed for Lake Erie are an important step toward further protecting the Great Lakes and build on our Government’s significant efforts to improve water quality and safeguard the health of Canadians.”

The proposed targets are based off science delivered by the $16-million Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative and the work of a binational subcommittee made up of federal agencies and other partners. The public will have until August 31 to comment on these targets.

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