Sault Ste. Marie officially applies to be home of the Canada Water Agency
This past week, representatives from the Sault officially applied to become the site of the Canada Water Agency.
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said he is confident the city's bid will be successful.
“We’re located right here in the middle of the Great Lakes on the gathering place between Lake Huron and Lake Superior and a short drive or short boat ride away in some cases from Lake Michigan,” Shoemaker said.
“When you think water in Canada, freshwater specifically, Sault Ste. Marie is at the heart of it all.”
A task force was created to help the city’s efforts. Elaine Ho-Tassone, Nordik Institute’s director of operations, is on that team.
Ho-Tassone said having a northern Ontario point of view could prove beneficial for discussions on water throughout the province and country.
“A lot of the issues start or are reflected upstream, we just don’t look at it that way,” she said.
“We look at ‘well what’s happening down in the bottom and how do we address that?’ Without thinking about what’s happening further up and what are the policies and practices and cultures that go into that without recognizing that.”
It’s not known at this point if the federal government will choose one, or multiple locations for the Canada Water Agency.
Ward 5 Coun. Corey Gardi said even if a regional approach is taken, being selected would still be a win for the city.
"It would mean the Sault capitalizing on opportunities provided by a changing climate and the importance of studying its impacts," Gardi said.
Shoemaker said adding another government agency makes sense based on those already located in the Sault.
“We’ve got world-class research facilities here already,” he said.
“We’ve got the Invasive Species Centre. We’ve got the Great Lakes Forest Research Centre and the Ontario Forest Research Institute. Across the river at Lake State we’ve got the American Freshwater Research Centre.”
Current partnerships could also prove helpful, said Ho-Tassone, whether it be with American agencies or Indigenous groups.
“Being able to bring together many First Nations and indigenous communities, which we have that ability, is something that can become a legacy project,” she said.
“A legacy impact for this agency, for the government, for just the way we have our relationships with each other moving forward.”
A decision on locations for the Agency is reportedly imminent. Ho-Tassone said it could happen before the end of the year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.