Across the border, officials are growing concerned over the reversal of the environmental health of the Great Lakes.
Ontario Provincial Environment Minister Jim Bradley says the problems are increasingly obvious, whether overseas migrant problems like the zebra mussel or the return of smelly algae which threatens the fish.
He says the province has made some progress from past actions like banning cosmetic pesticides which damaged water in streams flowing into the lakes.
The minister points out Ontario is concerned because four of the five-lakes are bordered by the province, from the western end of Lake Superior to where Lake Ontario flows into the Saint Lawrence River.
Bradley says that concern is why the new Great Lakes Council will include top government officials, including "all ministers of the Ontario government who have any effect on the Great Lakes at all. Obviously, the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources, but also ministries such as Tourism and Recreation and even Transportation, which would have an effect."
Looking at priorities, Bradley says doing something about phosphorus contamination which increases algae growth might be on top.
