Great Lakes–Saint Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement

Implementation

The agreement provides a framework for each Great Lakes state and province to enact programs and laws protecting the Basin. The states are meeting the agreement's commitments through the companion Great Lakes Compact. This compact was enacted into law on December 8, 2008, following approval by the state legislatures and the United States Congress, and signature by President George W. Bush.

In order to put the agreement into law in Ontario and Quebec, the provinces amended their statutes and regulations. It was enacted by the Quebec National Assembly on June 11, 2009, and by the Ontario Provincial Parliament on June 4, 2007. Ontario's Implementing Regulations were adopted on January 1, 2015, allowing the Agreement to begin coming fully into force as of March 8, 2015.

The Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers serves as secretariat to the Governors' and Premiers' Regional Body created by the Agreement and the Governors' Compact Council created by the Compact.