2023 Federal Priorities
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative’s federal priorities for the Canadian and U.S. governments are released annually and are the culmination of extensive consultation with our Board of Directors and our member cities.
Canadian Federal Priorities
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative calls on the Canadian federal government to support the following priorities in order to ensure the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin remains a vibrant place to live, work and play.
Specifically, the Cities Initiatives calls on the Canadian federal government to:
- Invest in a Freshwater Action Plan that Will Advance Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Stewardship
- Implement an Independent Canada Water Agency That Will Support the Long-Term Viability of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin and the Communities It Sustains
- Enable Municipalities to Provide Safe and Affordable Water for Their Communities
- Leverage Federal Resources and Tools to Support Climate Adaptation for Coastal Communities
- Address Nuisances and Pollutants Affecting the Quality of Our Precious Freshwater Resources
View Canadian Federal Priorities
For more information, please contact Phil Murphy-Rhéaume, Canada Policy Director, at phillipe.murphy-rheaume@glslcities.org.
U.S. Federal Priorities
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative calls on the U.S. federal government to support the following priorities in order to ensure the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin remains a vibrant place to live, work and play.
Specifically, the Cities Initiatives calls on the U.S. federal government to:
- Safeguard the Equitable Implementation of the Infrastructure Law
- Prioritize Lead Service Line Replacement and Safe Drinking Water
- Strengthen Lake-Borne Commerce and the Blue Economy
- Promote Ecosystem Restoration and Protect Water Quality
- Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Bolster Coastal Resilience
- Combat Aquatic Invasive Species
For more information, please contact Travis Wheeler, Chief Policy Officer, at twheeler@glslcities.org.
Joint U.S. Federal Priorities
The Cities Initiative has partnered with the Great Lakes Commission and eight other regional organizations to endorse a set of joint U.S. federal priorities to accelerate progress, foster equity, build resilience, and ensure the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water, an environmental treasure, and an economic engine for North America. These joint priorities present a powerful, unified voice from diverse groups representing Great Lakes states, cities, conservation and environmental groups, business and industry, tribes and ports and commercial vessel operators.
Joint Canadian Federal Priorities
The Cities Initiative has once again partnered with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Council of the Great Lakes Region and other regional organizations to outline a set of joint Canadian federal priorities to accelerate progress, foster equity, build resilience and ensure the sustainability of our communities and economy along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and the protection of these treasured freshwater resources. These joint priorities present a powerful, unified voice from diverse groups representing cities, conservation and environmental groups and business and industry who also came together for this year’s Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Days on the Hill in Ottawa.