A coastal resources manager with the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation says he believes last week's announcement that the province is bringing back the Great Lakes Protection Act.
Pat Donnelly adds it remains to be seen how much money will be directed to which projects, but he points out at the very least it's official recognition of the value of the huge natural resource that so many of us take for granted.
Donnelly says in all of the years Ontario has been a province, this is the first legislation aimed specifically at protecting the Great Lakes.
"I think we've always struggled with the idea of connecting our roles as communities and municipalities and connecting with the Great Lakes. We sort of a take them for granted because we live right next to them." Donnelly tells CKNX News.
Donnelly suggests that with the advent of climate change and the pressures that will bring to the Great Lakes it will become more important for that community to work together.