Today I joined mayors from across North America, as part of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI), to launch a transformative new economic action plan that aims to position the region as the Fresh Coast Economic Corridor™ and one of North America’s fastest-growing economies, while safeguarding our shared freshwater for future generations.
The Economic Transformation Action Plan: A Blueprint for Economic Growth and Freshwater Stewardship in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region was launched in New York City by leaders from some of the region’s largest cities – including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Montréal Mayor Valérie Plante, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Toronto Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie – as well as representatives from many other GLSLCI member communities.
With 84 percent of North America’s surface freshwater, a highly integrated regional economy that ranks as the third largest in the world, and many other comparative advantages, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Region is uniquely positioned to thrive in an era of global water scarcity.
Through the implementation of the Action Plan, the Cities Initiative and its partners aim to build on these strengths and contribute to the achievement of the following regional goals by 2035:
• Attract 500,000 new businesses that are committed to sustainability
• Create 18 million jobs for the region’s residents
• Avoid any percentage increase in consumptive water loss
• Improve water quality from ‘fair’ to ‘good’
• Reduce emissions by 300 million metric tons
What’s particularly important for GLSLCI member communities is that the Action Plan sets out a 10-year blueprint of practical strategies that can help all of us attract sustainability-focused industries, modernize the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway, revitalize waterfronts, and build a cleaner, more resilient energy grid.
It was an honour to be at today’s launch event representing York Region. The reality is that the health of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence system is directly tied to our economic vitality, sustainable growth, and overall quality of life. And by working together across borders, we’re not only shaping a stronger economy, but also safeguarding the future of our communities for generations to come.
