Posted inAbout Great Lakes Now, Advocacy, Andrew Reeves, Authors, Equity and Environmental Justice, Lake Ontario, Municipalities, News, Ontario, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Region, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, Who We Are and What We Do

Ontario government backtracks on developer-friendly bill threatening clean water

by Andrew Reeves

After introducing developer-friendly legislation in December that critics claimed would rollback source drinking water protections and key aspects of the Great Lakes Protection Act, the Ontario government announced last week it would eliminate the most contentious portion of the bill.

Posted inAbout Great Lakes Now, Advocacy, Authors, Drinking Water, Equity and Environmental Justice, Flint, Gary Wilson, News, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Protect, The States, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Who We Are and What We Do

Can new crop of Great Lakes politicians turn the tide on drinking water quality?

by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

A new crop of politicians in the region is emerging, putting a spotlight on long-entrenched drinking water quality issues.

Posted inAbout Great Lakes Now, Andrew Reeves, Authors, Drinking Water, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Lake Ontario, News, Ontario, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Protect, Region, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Waterfront Development, Who We Are and What We Do

Ontario government unveils ‘plan to make a plan’ for protecting Great Lakes

by Andrew Reeves

After suggesting for months that its forthcoming blueprint for tackling climate change wouldn’t extend beyond reducing provincial greenhouse gas emissions, Ontario’s right-leaning Progressive Conservative government unveiled a broader environmental mandate late last year.

Posted inAbout Great Lakes Now, Authors, Climate Change, Drinking Water, Equity and Environmental Justice, James Proffitt, Lake Erie, News, Ohio, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Protect, Region, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Water Withdrawals, Who We Are and What We Do

Lake Erie Bill of Rights finally on ballot, then challenged again

by James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

Although the Lucas County Board of Elections in a 3-0 vote approved the ballot initiative last month, a second protest filed the day after Christmas on behalf of Josh Abernathy is before the Ohio Supreme Court and could, ultimately, prevent the grassroots initiative from appearing on the ballot.

Posted inAbout Great Lakes Now, Authors, Budget, Drinking Water, Flint, Gary Wilson, Groundwater Contamination, Illinois, Infrastructure, Lake Michigan, Lead, News, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Region, The States, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Who We Are and What We Do

Will new Illinois governor revive state’s interest in the Great Lakes?

by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

With a new governor leading, will Illinois fall into step more closely with other states and the Canadian provinces in the basin, at least on some issues?

Posted inAbout Great Lakes Now, Audio, Authors, Gary Wilson, Illinois, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, News, Ohio, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Protect, Region, Video, Who We Are and What We Do

Federal employees hit streets in Great Lakes region to protest government shutdown

by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Demonstrations against the government shutdown led by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), took place just steps from the EPA’s Great Lakes Region headquarters.

Posted inAgriculture, Article, Energy, Clean Energy, Ethanol and Fracking, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, The States

From Bridge Magazine: New Midwest governors spur hope for regional fight against climate change

by Jim Malewitz

Besides Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan, new governors in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin have vowed all vowed take action on global warming. That’s prompted some to wonder whether they could join forces on policy or other practices related to climate change. After all, it’s happened before.

Posted inAbout Great Lakes Now, Authors, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, John Hartig, News, Ontario, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Protect, Recreation and Tourism, Region, Tourism, Waterfront Development, Who We Are and What We Do

A Great Lakes Moment from John Hartig

by John Hartig, Great Lakes Now

A recent case study of the cleanup of Toronto Harbour has shown that investing in environmental cleanup and restoration yields considerable economic and social benefits. If cities want to achieve competitive advantage, environmental cleanup and protection are essential.