Press Releases

The Cities Initiative periodically issues press releases on a variety of programs. Find an archive of press releases here.

September 16, 2022 – Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Mayors from eleven other Midwest cities, along with EPA and state officials, take part in Lead Line Removal and Water Equity field hearing

September 14, 2022 – Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb named new Co-Chairs of the Mayors Commission on Water Equity

June 24, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River mayors turn attention to growing the region’s blue economy

June 23, 2022 – Great Lakes mayors united in support for ambitious Ontario Marine Strategy

April 7, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River mayors welcome sustained commitment to Canada Water Agency in the 2022 federal Budget

March 24, 2022 – The Cities Initiative joins calls on the Canadian Government to restore funding for shoreline infrastructure along the St. Lawrence Seaway

March 8, 2022 – Ontario and Quebec mayors call for greater federal leadership to protect shoreline communities along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River

February 24, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative receives $380,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

January 14, 2022 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative supports Federal Highway Administration bridge program.

December 16, 2021 – Great Lakes Mayors Support Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

November 24, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Supports Commitments in Speech from the Throne.

November 11, 2021 – The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds passage of the Infrastructure bill — now urges Congress to pass the Build Back Better bill immediately

October 31, 2021 – Congress urgently needs to act on the infrastructure and reconciliation bills to safeguard water equity

October 6, 2021 – JAMA Pediatrics study highlights lead in water danger — 135 Mayors call on Congress to act on the Infrastructure and Reconciliation Bills immediately

September 10, 2021 – Coastal Resilience and Water Equity reports from Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative identify significant funding needs and increased federal investment

August 26, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative concludes highly successful virtual annual meeting

July 16, 2021 – Ontario communities to spend $276 million over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change

July 8, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence communities to spend nearly $2 billion over next five years combating coastal damages from climate change

 May 24, 2021 – Mayors Commission on Water Equity supports new legislation in Congress providing assistance for water utility bills

April 29, 2021 – Mayors Commission on Water Equity asks Congress to invest $58 billion to create a cross-agency “Lead Safe Communities” fund

April 20, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Supports Budget 2021’s funding for Canada Water Agency and understanding the effects of Climate Change

April 16, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Vice-Chair requests $2.2 Billion for the Canada Water Agency and $7 Billion in shoreline infrastructure funding to address climate change

March 31, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative supports Biden infrastructure plan

March 10, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds passage of Biden COVID relief package

February 25, 2021 – Regional organizations support shared priorities for the Great Lakes

January 19, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative supports Biden COVID relief package and urges quick approval by Congress

January 8, 2021 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds agreement to advance Brandon Road project to stop Asian carp

December 15, 2020 – 150 mayors from across America’s heartland urge funding to support COVID-19 response

November 16, 2020 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Convenes Mayors Water Equity Commission

September 23, 2020 – 150 U.S. Mayors Urge Congressional Leaders to Find Compromise on Stimulus Spending to Help Struggling Cities and Towns

September 23, 2020 – Great Lakes organizations urge Congress to include Great Lakes priorities in WRDA reauthorization

September 2, 2020 – Detroit, Zion, and Saint-Anicet join the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Initiative

August 6, 2020 – 200 U.S. Mayors Call for Emergency Fiscal Assistance for Municipal Governments in U.S. Senate CARES Stimulus Plan

July 7, 2020 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Calls for Additional Stimulus Efforts to Include Water Restoration Priorities

June 9, 2020 – Sheboygan, Wisconsin Mayor Mike Vandersteen elected chair of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

February 14, 2020 – Pre-Budget Consultations with the Government of Canada

February 11, 2020 – Reaction to presidential budget

June 26, 2019 – Projects Moving Ahead to Reduce Lake Erie Algae, Phosphorus targeted for removal

June 18, 2019 – The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Collaborative Proposes Action Plan 2030 to Protect the Great Lakes

June 7, 2019 – TruGreen Honors Leading GLSLCI Members with First-Ever TruGreen Environment Education Awards

June 6, 2019- Canadian and American Mayors Call for Urgent Action against Asian Carp. Signing of the “Mayor's Declaration to Stop Asian Carp”

April 19, 2019 – Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Welcomes Waukegan Mayor Cunningham

April 11, 2019 – Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and TruGreen Partner To Improve Water Quality, the Environment

March 15, 2019 – Trump Administration 2020 Budget Proposal Jeopardizes Clean Water 

February 22, 2018 – Canadian and US Mayors Call for Immediate Action on Asian Carp

December 7, 2018 – Projects identified to address Lake Erie algae, Thames River Phosphorous Reduction Collaborative
a. Read the Backgrounder
b. Read the Press Release

November 30, 2018 – Mayors and Anishinabek Nation call for stricter rules for water withdrawals from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
a. Read the backgrounder
b. Read the Press Release

October 26, 2018 – Panel of Expert to Investigate Protection of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River
a. Read the backgrounder
b. Read the Press Release

September 20, 2018 – More funding for new phosphorus technologies to clean up Lake Erie Federal-provincial program boosts innovative Thames River initiative

July 19, 2018: New phosphorus technologies to clean up Lake Erie – Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative

a. Read the backgrounder

June 14, 2018: Canadian and US Mayors reject rhetoric, stand united for shared economic prosperity.

February 23, 2018: Collaborative ramps up phosphorus reduction project – Farmers and Cities team up to help meet 40 per cent target

February 14, 2018: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

November 22, 2017: Mayors, Businesses and NGOs in Ottawa to call for increased investment to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence

August 2, 2017: Mayors and Governors Reach Agreement to Improve Water Diversion Application Process

June 27, 2017: New group working with farmers, municipalities to reduce phosphorus in the Thames

June 15, 2017: Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Mayors Mobilize over Great Lakes Restoration and Climate Change

June 2, 2017: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Denounce President Trump's Withdrawal from Paris Agreement on Climate Change

May 23, 2017: Proposed US Federal Budget Cuts Threaten the Great Lakes

March 27, 2017: Cities Initiative Board of Directors Announces New President/CAO

March 16, 2017: Elimination of Great Lakes Funds Shocks Mayors

March 3, 2017: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Deeply Concerned about U.S. Budget

December 19, 2016: Success for the Great Lakes: WIIN Act Signed Into Law By Obama

December 9, 2016: Funding Supports Work to Reduce Phosphorus Loss to Waterways

October 27. 2016: Mayors, Business Leaders, NGOs Call for New Vision, Blue Print for future of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Region: Great Lakes Advocates Meet with Key Ministers in Ottawa

June 16, 2016: Mayors Oppose Waukesha Water Diversion (pdf)

June 16, 2016: Backgrounder

February 16th, 2016: Mayors call on June 16, 2016: Backgrounder Premiers, Governors to Defend Integrity of Great Lakes and Compact [pdf]

December 11th, 2015: Mayors call on World Leaders to Reach Ambitious Climate Commitment in Paris [Press Release]

• Backgrounder (December 11, 2015)
• Resolution (December 11, 2015)

October 6th, 2015: Mayors hold first Great Lakes Day at Queen's Park

October 6th, 2015: Backgrounder

June 17th, 2015: Mayors endorse State and Provincial accord to restore Lake Erie (Annual Meeting) [pdf]

June 10th, 2015: Mayors Call on US and Canada to Protect Drinking Water [pdf]

Annual Meetings

Montreal 2017

• January 13, 2017: The Future of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence on the Agenda for Montreal’s 275th Anniversary

Thunder Bay 2014

• Mayors Call for Better Protection from Oil Transportation Spills
• Cities Recognized for Sustainability, Conservation, and Water Management

Marquette 2013

• Mayors Take on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Challenges
• Annual Meeting Media Backgrounder

Quebec 2012

Niagara Falls 2011

• Cities Receive Awards for Stormwater Management, Conservation and Sustainability
• New Bi-National Commitment, Investment Urgently Needed to Protect Great Lakes and St. Lawrence

Milwaukee 2010

• Green Cities Chart Sustainable Future for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence
• Cities Initiative Announces Recipient of Wege Sustainability Award
• Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Request Meeting on Spill Response

Asian Carp

• $2 Million Funding Goal Met, Lead Contractor Selected for Study Initiative to Modernize the Chicago Waterway System and Protect the Great Lakes from Asian Carp – January 11th, 2011
• States and cities launch initiative to modernize the Chicago area waterway system and protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp – July 22nd, 2010

BP Refinery

• July 28, 2007: Mayors Call for Less Pollution from BP Refinery to Lake Michigan

Canada Ontario Agreement and Memorandum of Cooperation (COAMOC)

• June 1, 2010: Provincial and Municipal Great Lakes Partnerships
• June 1, 2010: Ontario and Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Areas of Cooperation
• June 1, 2010: Ontario’s Great Lakes Beaches and Coasts to Benefit from Collaboration
• May 5, 2009: Ontario Mayors’ Five Point Collaborative Action Plan to Protect the Great Lakes
• May 5, 2009: Cities and Province Affirm Commitment to Restoring and Protecting the Great Lakes

Municipal Adaptation and Resiliency Service (MARS)

• Cities Initiative Launches a Municipal Adaptation and Resiliency Service
• June 17, 2014: Cities, Ontario Tackle Great Lakes Resiliency to Climate Change Together
• June 17, 2014: Letter from Mayor Hobbs to Members regarding Municipal Adaptation and Resiliency Service
• August 2014: “Is Your Municipality Storm Ready?”

Microplastics

• October 29, 2013: Mayors Press for Action on Microplastics

Nuclear

• February 4, 2011: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Express Disappointment at Decision to Approve Radioactive Equipment and Waste Shipment
• September 29, 2010: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Oppose Nuclear Waste Shipment
• November 23, 2010: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Mayors Reaffirm Opposition to Radioactive Waste Shipment
• September 13, 2010: Cities Initiative Opposes Radioactive Shipment Along Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River