Interview opportunity - Toronto Mayor David Miller, Town of the Blue Mountains Mayor Ellen Anderson

Jan 29th, 2008 5:45 AM

Attention: News, Business and Environment Editors Interview opportunity – Immediate - January 28, 2008 Premier McGuinty’s focus on climate change and the Great Lakes at Premier’s Conference in Vancouver Who - Mayor David Miller of the City of Toronto and Mayor Ellen Anderson of the Town of the Blue Mountains are available to comment. What - The mayors will comment on the cost of climate change and the declining lake levels being felt today by cities, shippers, fisheries, marinas and cottagers on the Lakes, and the important role that cities have to play in showing leadership in reducing energy consumption and adapting to changes in the Great Lakes basin. The Premiers are expected to make a statement on this topic at a press conference scheduled for 2:15pm Pacific Time (5:15pm EST) on Tuesday, January 29th. Interviews can be scheduled by contacting: Nicola Crawhall Deputy Director Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Tel: 416-463-4938, cell: 416-432-2739 Fast Facts • Lake Superior levels have declined about 30 cm/1 ft in the last year and about 60 cm/2 ft over the last decade. Last summer, the lake was at near record low levels. • Lakes Michigan and Huron are about 60 cm/2 ft below their average levels.The US Army Corps of Engineers predicts Lake Huron will drop another 20 cm or2/3 ft by this spring. • The IJC is investigating the causes of lake level decline in the Upper Lakes (Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron, including Georgian Bay). Several theories have been proposed, including climate change, ‘rebound’ of the base of the lakes from the last ice age, and continued erosion in Lake St. Clair, the connecting channel between Lakes Huron and Michigan to Lake Erie. • Municipalities, shippers, commercial fisheries, marinas and cottagers are already feeling the effects, and the costs of declining lake levels in Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.