Phase III of the St. Lawrence Action Plan is the culmination of discussions between many government and non-government partners. Through this process, the relevant Canadian and Quebec government departments, together with representatives from the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 (SLV 2000) Consultative Committee, Stratégies Saint-Laurent, and the Areas of Prime Concern (ZIP - in French: Zones d'intervention prioritaire) committees have reached consensus on priority areas for environmental action. More than 200 people have taken part in developing this third phase.

Press release: Follow-up to St. Lawrence action plan: Phase III is confirmed

With a view to ensuring sustainable development and continuity with the actions of the first two phases, this third phase seeks to achieve three major objectives: protect ecosystem health, protect human health, and involve riverside communities in the process of helping to make the St. Lawrence more accessible and recover its former uses.

Empowering Riverside Communities to Take Charge of the St. Lawrence

Progress is continuing in setting up ZIP committees and drafting Ecological Remedial Action Plans (ERAP) under the co-ordination of Stratégies Saint Laurent — a concrete sign of the will of local communities to take an active part in protecting and conserving the St. Lawrence. Phase III will support this approach by encouraging consensus building in riverside communities and by backing both financially and technically the creation of new ZIPs and the completion of community projects that help further the objectives of Phase III.

Participatory Management through Consensus Building

Now more than ever, actions affecting the St. Lawrence are involving a greater degree of consensus building not only between government partners but also with non-government stakeholders. Phase III of the St. Lawrence Action Plan integrates the action priorities and the public’s concerns. The SLV 2000 Consultative Com-mittee, for its part, acts as an advisory body for the Agreement Management Committee. In addition, outside partners will be invited to take part in carrying out the objectives of Phase III.

A Preventative Approach

Over the last few years, the most urgent actions have been given top priority, e.g., reducing toxic liquid discharge from the industrial sector and protecting wildlife habitats and endangered species. Phase III stresses an approach based on pre-vention, especially for human health, industrial and urban cleanup, agriculture, and navigation. Encouragement is to be given to instituting voluntary measures and adopting good environmental management practices. Emphasis will be on education and consciousness-raising to protect the health of both the public and the St. Lawrence ecosystem.

CONSENSUS BUILDING, PARTNERSHIP, ACTION

A Positive and Constructive Way to Work Together

Phase III of the St. Lawrence Action Plan has two distinguishing features. One is the growing public involvement in protection and conservation of the St. Lawrence. The other is the increas-ing efforts to build consensus among all partners with a view to achieving concrete and measurable results. This consensus building is present at all levels.

Between Governments

With this third agreement, the governments of Canada and Quebec have shown their will to give the St. Lawrence back to the people in a healthy condition. For ten years now, management through consensus building has enabled both governments to agree on their objectives, to ensure their actions complement each other, and to use their available resources optimally.

With the Consultative Committee

The Consultative Committee has about thirty members who come from all areas of activity relating to the St. Lawrence: fishing, tourism, agriculture, public health, municipalities, industries,navigation, the fauna and the flora. Its mandate is to advise the Agreement Management Committee on policy directions and on the work carried out under Phase III.

With Stratégies Saint-Laurent and the ZIP Committees

Stratégies Saint-Laurent has a mandate to co-ordinate and promote the Areas of Prime Concern (ZIP) program. It is responsible for creating new ZIP committees, co-ordinating existing ones, facilitating communication and exchanges between them, and following up ERAP’s actions. ZIP committees encourage consensus building within communities along the river and see to it that action priorities are set at the local level.

Existing ZIP Committees (see map)

With the Citizens

Involvement by citizens within ZIP committees has grown over the years. Many of them are ready to play a concrete role in improving the environmental quality of their area and in encouraging greater public accessibility to the uses of the St. Lawrence. Currently, there are ten ZIP committees and four others will be formed during Phase III.

With the Private Sector and the Universities

Close co-operation will continue with the private sector and the university/research centre sector. This partnership, which began ten years ago, has made it easier to achieve targeted scientific results and help develop renowned expertise in environmental science in Quebec.

With the Biosphere’s Ecowatch Network

The Biosphere is the leading Canadian centre for environmental observation of the St. Lawrence/ Great Lakes waters and ecosystems. It seeks to develop in citizens a responsible and action-oriented awareness of different issues. Everywhere, along the St. Lawrence, individuals, schools, and member organizations of the Ecowatch Network gather various kinds of data on their environment and on their environmental actions. The Biosphere processes and highlights this information and disseminates it to the public via the latest communication technologies.

A Management Challenge

Implementation of Phase III of the St. Lawrence Action Plan presents a real challenge to the Management Plan in the quantity and complexity of the issues it confronts, in the many different interests it brings into play, and in its commitments to achieve concrete, measurable results. Together, we can rise to this challenge.

See also Le Fleuve Newsletter, volume 9, issue 1.