Queen’s Park Legislative Day

On October 6th, 2015, the Cities Initiative held its first Great Lakes Day at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Ontario. Over 20 mayors and local officials from the Cities Initiative membership convened at the Legislative Assembly for meetings with several ministers as well as Members of Provincial Parliament.

The day was championed by Minister of Finance Charles Sousa, who met with the Cities Initiative members to discuss phosphorus and nutrients, Climate Change, Asian Carp, and the invasive reed Phragmites. The Cities Initiative mayors and officials also met with Minister of the Agriculture Jeff Leal, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Bill Mauro, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray, and with Members of Provincial Parliament from both the Progressive Conservative and National Democratic Party caucuses. Climate change, nutrients, Asian Carp, Phragmites, wetlands, and the Great Lakes Protection Act topped the list of topics covered.

L-R: Councilor John Pepperell, Mayor Randy Hope, Mayor Walter Sendzik, Mayor Keith Hobbs, Mayor Mitch Twolan, Mayor Scott Warnock, Her Honour Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Warden Paul Gowing, Tom DeSantis, etc.

L-R: Mayor Nelson Santos, Mayor George Cornell, Mayor Randy Hope, Mayor Walter Sendzik, Mayor Keith Hobbs, Mayor Mitch Twolan, Mayor Scott Warnock, Her Honour Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Warden Paul Gowing, Tom DeSantis, Mayor Ziggy Polkowski, Councilor Jim Tovey, David Ullrich, Mayor Sandra Cooper, Mayor John Paterson, Nicola Crawhall, Mayor Paul Dyster, Councilor John Pepperell

In addition, Her Honour Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, welcomed the Cities Initiative group to her offices in the Legislative building, where she gave the mayors a tour of her art exhibit, ‘Identity: Art Inspired by the Great Lakes’. Her Honour spoke eloquently of the importance of forging a common identity for Ontarians, and how the Great Lakes unite us all. Many thanks to the Lieutenant Governor, the Ministers, Members of Provincial Parliament, and staff who welcomed the Cities Initiative elected officials to Queen’s Park and helped make the day a great success.