This consultation was open from:
March 10, 2017
to May 24, 2017
Decision summary
In collaboration with the government of Canada and many other partners, we have developed a Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan, which includes over 120 actions to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Erie by 40 per cent.
Decision details
Decision on policy
Following extensive engagement, and with the assistance of many partners, the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada have finalized the Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan to reduce phosphorus loads and algal blooms in Lake Erie.
Over the past decade, Lake Erie has shown symptoms of extreme stress due to high phosphorus levels that are contributing to an increase in harmful and nuisance algal blooms and low oxygen conditions. These conditions can have significant economic, social and ecological impacts. For example, hundreds of thousands of Ontarians in the Lake Erie basin rely on the lake as a primary source of drinking water. According to a recent report, the costs of harmful and nuisance algal blooms on the Canadian side of Lake Erie could reach up to $272 million annually.
Without reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the lake from all sources, the ecological health of the lake will continue to be threatened. To restore and protect the lake’s water quality, the Action Plan includes over 120 actions that will help achieve the 40 per cent phosphorus load reduction targets for the western and central basins of Lake Erie (based on 2008 levels). These actions will be taken by the governments of Ontario and Canada, as well as key partners, sectors and communities, including municipalities, agricultural sector, conservation authorities and non-governmental organizations.
Ontario also recognizes that First Nations and Métis communities living within the Great Lakes basin have contributed to the protection of the Great Lakes ecosystem health. Their perspectives continue to enhance our understanding of stewardship responsibilities regarding the natural environment and water, including the Lake Erie basin and watershed.
The Action Plan meets Ontario’s commitments under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2014 (COA).
Ontario has also adopted a target under the Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015 (GLPA) for the reduction of algal blooms. This Action Plan will serve as the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change’s plan for meeting the GLPA target. The target set under the GLPA to assist in the reduction of algal blooms is a 40 per cent phosphorus load reduction by 2025 for the Ontario portion of the western and central basins of Lake Erie (from 2008 levels) using an adaptive management approach (including an aspirational interim goal of a 20 percent reduction by 2020).
Through the Action Plan, Ontario will also meet its commitments under the Western Basin of Lake Erie Collaborative Agreement between Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio; and the Great Lakes Commission’s Joint Action Plan for Lake Erie which included the participation of Ontario, Ohio, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
Effects of consultation
Of the 2,205 written submissions received by the Ministry on the policy proposal, the majority came in the form of identical emails as part of three separate writing campaigns.
In addition to the public comments received in response to the March 10, 2017 Policy Proposal Notice, verbal comments and input were received through the Lake Erie Nutrients Working Group and engagement sessions with municipalities, Indigenous communities, agricultural sector, conservation authorities, non-governmental organizations, and the public in spring 2017.
In general, there was widespread support for the draft Action Plan. The most significant comments were as follows:
- Actions should include more details, especially regarding accountability, timelines and resources;
- Include estimates of phosphorus reductions associated with specific actions;
- Need for effective monitoring programs to better understand phosphorus sources and pathways to water bodies to better target mitigation strategies and to measure progress;
- Mixed comments on the need for further restrictions on nutrient application in non-growing season:
- some in favour of further restrictions on nutrient application to snow covered and frozen/saturated ground as well as greater enforcement, and
- others supported the need for industry-led education and awareness initiatives focusing on application to frozen and snow-covered ground, and recognized need for flexibility;
- Expand wetland restoration efforts;
- Expand wastewater infrastructure requirements to include green infrastructure; and
- Focus on the largest sources of phosphorus.
In November 2017, Ontario and Canada further engaged with the Lake Erie Nutrients Working Group, key sectors, Indigenous communities and the public, through focussed engagement sessions with partners, and public webinars to discuss changes made to the March 2017 draft action plan. As a result of this engagement, over 5,000 additional written submissions were received - largely in the form of identical emails - expressing support for the draft Action Plan, and for the protection of Lake Erie.
After careful consideration of all comments and input received by federal and provincial agencies through public consultation and partner engagement on the proposal, changes were made to the draft Action Plan, including:
- Addition of new actions, including many partner actions demonstrating the collective commitments of many sectors (e.g., agricultural organizations, conservation authorities, municipalities and non-governmental organizations);
- Revision of existing actions for clarity;
- Editorial re-writing for improved flow and readability, including improved linking of the introductory content to the actions;
- Additional content to describe efforts of the agricultural sector;
- Inclusion of timelines and accountability for actions, where feasible;
- New and clearer commitments for improved Lake Erie monitoring and research; and
- Strengthening of the governance section, and addition of a new commitment to develop an implementation plan.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
Connect with us
Contact
Madhu Malhotra
40 St. Clair Avenue West
10th floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Updates
This proposal notice was originally published on March 10, 2017 with a 60 day comment period ending on May 09, 2017. The ministry has updated this notice to extend the comment period until May 24, 2017. The content of the proposal notice has not been changed.
Comments may also be sent by e-mail to Land.Water@ontario.ca
Description of policy
With the assistance of many partners, the Ontario government and the Government of Canada have developed a Canada-Ontario draft action plan for Lake Erie to reduce algal blooms and phosphorus loads in Lake Erie.
As well as meeting Ontario’s commitments under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2014, the action plan being developed will meet commitments under the Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015; Western Basin of Lake Erie Collaborative Agreement between Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio; and the Great Lakes Commission’s Lake Erie Joint Action Plan which included the participation of Ontario, Ohio, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
Without reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the lake, we will continue to see extensive algal growth and low oxygen conditions in Lake Erie. Ambitious and aggressive actions to reduce phosphorus loads are needed to restore and protect the lake’s water quality and ecological health.
As part of the action plan development process, Ontario posted Reducing Phosphorus to Minimize Algal Blooms in Lake Erie (EBR#: 012-8760) on October 6, 2016, which included proposed actions by Ontario for public comment. Comments received from this posting and from engagement with stakeholders, First Nations, and Métis in 2016 are being considered as part of this draft action plan.
The Canada-Ontario draft action plan – Partnering in Phosphorus Control: Achieving Phosphorus Reductions in Lake Erie from Canadian Sources is being led by five federal and provincial government agencies:
- Environment and Climate Change Canada;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change;
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Achieving the 40 percent phosphorus reduction targets for Lake Erie will require widespread action and long-term commitment. Ontario and Canada invite input and actions from Great Lakes community partners for inclusion in the final action plan, which will be in place no later than February 2018.
Purpose of policy
The Ontario government, the Government of Canada, and Great Lakes community partners must work together to take action on reducing phosphorus loads to Lake Erie. The province and the federal government are seeking feedback on how individuals, communities, industry sectors and organizations can contribute and commit to actions to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Erie.
The governments are asking for input from stakeholders and community members based on the following questions:
- Do you have any feedback or input on the proposed actions outlined in this document?
- Many agencies, stakeholders and other partners have a role in reducing phosphorus loadings to Lake Erie. What actions does your organization/community plan to undertake as part of the action plan?
- How do you see regional or local planning initiatives linking with or fitting into the implementation of this plan?
- What do you see as the most significant barriers to reducing phosphorus loadings to Lake Erie? Do you have any suggestions for overcoming these barriers?
- As all sectors and communities within the Lake Erie basin need to take action to reduce phosphorus loads, do you have any recommendations on how to encourage collaborative action?
- Tracking progress and adaptive management will be essential for ensuring that actions are making a difference to the health of the Lake Erie basin. Do you have any specific ideas for measuring progress (i.e., performance measures) towards achieving Lake Erie phosphorus load reduction targets?
- Do you have any other suggestions for reducing, managing or treating phosphorus run-off and discharges, including innovative approaches or technologies for phosphorus removal or recovery?
Public consultation
This proposal was posted for a 75 day public review and comment period starting March 10, 2017. Comments were to be received by May 24, 2017.
All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry.
Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.
Other public consultation opportunities
Comments received through Ontario’s October 6, 2016 posting (EBR#: 012-8760) and input from the 2016 engagement sessions are being considered as part of the draft action plan development process.
The Ontario government and the Government of Canada will continue to engage with the Great Lakes community during the posting period, including First Nations and Métis communities, key sectors (e.g., municipal, agriculture, conservation authorities and non-governmental organizations) and the Lake Erie Nutrients Working Group.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from March 10, 2017
to May 24, 2017
Connect with us
Contact
Madhu Malhotra
40 St. Clair Avenue West
10th floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
22By email
2,205By mail
0