March 7, 2005

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley joined Toronto Mayor David Miller March 2 in a joint address to the Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast in Washington (DC) The Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast is an annual opportunity for US Senators and Congressmen to be briefed on Great Lakes policies and programs.

Daley and Miller are co-chairs of the Great Lakes Cities Initiative, an international coalition of municipal governments that sets policy and takes action on Great Lakes environmental initiatives.

Both mayors underscored the ongoing need for a municipal, national and international commitment to successfully protect and restore the Great Lakes.

"Over the last several years, we've seen an unprecedented level of cooperation on Great Lakes issues among mayors from both the U.S. and Canada, as well as governors and provincial and federal officials in both Ottawa and Washington (DC)," said Daley.

Daley touched upon the critical problems of invasive species coming into the lakes, the millions of cubic yards of sediment that remain contaminated with toxic waste and the billions of gallons of raw sewage that continues to be released into the lakes.

During his address, Daley also mentioned that the Council of Great Lakes Governors is nearing completion of its work to create a system to manage the withdrawal of water from the Great Lakes in a way that will protect them for the long-term.

Additionally, Daley commented that the U.S. and Canadian governments are beginning to review and revise the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. In order to be effective, the agreement needs updating and to recognize the critical role cities play in protecting the Great Lakes.

Daley also pointed out that mayors are on the front lines when it comes to making decisions that have a direct impact on peoples' lives in matters such as:

• keeping beaches safe to swim,
• protecting water quality,
• repairing shorelines,
• controlling wastewater discharges,
• conserving drinking water,
• dealing with invasive species, and
• regulating lakefront development.

Daley noted that during a meeting in Chicago last December, the framework document for the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration — authorized by President Bush last May — was signed.

The goal for this long-term comprehensive plan will be to:

• substantially reduce the release of raw sewage;
• cut back the mercury emissions that get in the lakes;
• stop the introduction of invasive species; and
• provide infrastructure funding to address the dumping of sewage into the lakes.

Daley added, "We've made significant progress, compared to where we were 20 or 30 years ago. The amount of nutrients, toxic substances and sewage has been reduced, and the results are evident. Water quality is better. More varieties of fish are thriving. And we're seeing more boaters, swimmers and sunbathers than ever before."