325 Mayors and First Nation and Tribal Leaders Adopt Declaration on Preserving the U.S.-Canada Relationship for a Strong Regional Economy and Healthy Environment

On May 14, 2025, Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, Burlington’s Deputy Mayor for Business & Red Tape Reduction, recently represented myself and our City at the 2025 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Annual Conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This significant gathering brought together over 325 mayors, First Nation, and Tribal leaders from across the region to address pressing economic and environmental challenges, particularly to protect our regional economy and precious freshwater resources in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region.

A key outcome of the conference was the adoption of a declaration emphasizing the importance of preserving the U.S.-Canada relationship to ensure a robust regional economy and the protection of vital freshwater resources. The declaration highlights the deep economic integration between the two nations, which collectively generate approximately $8 trillion CAD in annual economic output and account for 50% of U.S.-Canada bilateral trade. It also underscores the shared responsibility in safeguarding the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, which contain about 84% of North America's surface fresh water.

Thank you to Councillor Galbraith for participating and enshrining Burlington's commitment to regional collaboration on issues that impact both the environment and the economy, ensuring Burlington continues to play an active role in shaping policies that affect the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region.

I’d also like to congratulate Sean O’Meara, Town and Halton Regional Councillor for Oakville Ward 1, who was awarded the GLSLCI Ontario Member of the Year Award. Councillor O’Meara was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the organization's mission of promoting economic prosperity, while protecting the freshwater resources which are essential to the success of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region. Councillor O’Meara has served as Halton’s representative on the GLSLCI since 2018 and is currently Vice-Chair of the Ontario Regional Advisory Committee.

For more details on the conference and the adopted declaration, you can read the full press release HERE.