April 1998 Special Session
Senate Resolution 1
ENGROSSED RESOLUTION
Relating to: urging the Province of Ontario to rescind its decision to allow the diversion and sale of water from Lake Superior.
Whereas, the Province of Ontario, Canada, has given permission to a company to remove and sell up to 158,500,000 gallons of water from Lake Superior for each of the next 5 years; and
Whereas, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment took this action without first consulting with the International Joint Commission, as required under the provisions of the United States-Canada Boundary Waters Treaty; and
Whereas, this action may also be in violation of the Great Lakes Charter which has been entered into by Wisconsin and all other states and Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes; and
Whereas, this action may undermine international cooperation and encourage companies to undertake even larger water diversions from the Great Lakes; and
Whereas, the waters of the Great Lakes are a precious natural resource that belong to all Canadian and American people and the environmental consequences of a diversion of this magnitude are unknown; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, That the members of the Wisconsin senate urge the Province of Ontario to rescind its decision to allow this diversion of water from Lake Superior and further to consult with the appropriate governmental bodies as required by international law and treaty prior to considering any other diversions; and, be it further
Resolved, That a duly attested copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted to the president of the United States, to each member of the congressional delegation from this state and to the premier of the Province of Ontario.
