Government of Canada releases proposed regulations to enable continued operation of Experimental Lakes Area

OTTAWA—February 14, 2014—The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) welcomes today’s announcement of proposed new regulations that would allow the important scientific research at the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) to continue.  The proposed regulations are published in the Canada Gazette and are entitled “Experimental Lakes Area Research Activities Regulations” and “Regulations Establishing Conditions for Making Regulations under Subsection 36(5.2) of the Fisheries Act.” This step, together with the Ontario government’s regulation proposal notice last month, is of critical importance to allow the operation of ELA by a third party. IISD seeks to ensure that the long-term scientific work to understand Canada’s changing freshwater management challenges continues.  “IISD continues to negotiate with both Ontario and the federal government, and we are hopeful that a final arrangement regarding legal transfer of the Experimental Lakes Area can be reached in the coming weeks,” said Scott Vaughan, IISD president and CEO. Proposed Enabling Regulations:http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2014/2014-02-15/html/reg5-eng.php

Proposed ELA Regulations:http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2014/2014-02-15/html/reg6-eng.php The ELA encompasses 58 freshwater lakes in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It serves as the only whole-lake laboratory in the world, which attracts scientists studying the impacts of stressors and pollutants from human activity and industrial development on freshwater lakes, streams and surrounding watersheds. For more information please contact Joel Trenaman, Director, Communications and Publishing, at jtrenaman@iisd.ca or +1 204 958 7731.