A wonderful opportunity Wednesday to be in Niagara and provide opening remarks for the binational Great Lakes-St. Lawrence partners at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission's Annual General Meeting, where I was also the surprised recipient of a Recognition of Support Award from this important agency.

While I am honoured to have been recognized, it is a bipartisan, bicameral and binational team effort that has brought Canada back to the table as an equal partner in the shared responsibility of caring for our Great Lakes. There are many Great Lakes champions who have helped to make this work successful.

Thank you for all that you do to keep and sustain the "Great in our shared Great Lakes.

Great Lakes Fishery Commission:

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative/Alliance Grands Lacs St-Laurent Council of the Great Lakes Region IJC - International Joint Commission Pollution Probe