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: 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.
Resources
Media Coverage
- Windsor Star: Ontario mayors meet for first Great Lakes meeting
- Oshawa Express: Pushing for action to help the Great Lakes
- Bayshore Broadcasting: Mayors seek help on the Great Lakes
- Chronicle Journal: Great Lakes mayors sound alarm
- North Country Public Radio: Ontario cities push for action on lake algae and invasive species
- CTV News London: Action on toxic algae and Asian carp urged for Great Lakes
Photos
- Minister Murray and Cities Initiative representatives
- Lieutenant Governor Dowdeswell speaks
- Mayors convene in the Legislative Building
- Minister Leal meets with Cities initiative mayors
- Cities Initiative representatives with Minister Mauro
- Mayor Keith Hobbs speaks with members of the NDP caucus
- Cities Initiative representatives with members of the PC caucus
- Minister Sousa and Cities Initiative represenatatives