Great Lakes
Water Quality
Agreement
Protocol Amending the Agreement Between Canada and the United States of America
on Great Lakes Water Quality, 1978, as Amended on October 16, 1983,
and on November 18, 1987
Signed September 7, 2012
Entered into force February 12, 2013
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (the “Parties”),
RECOGNIZING that the Agreement between Canada and the United States of America
on Great Lakes Water Quality,1978, done at Ottawa on 22 November 1978, as amended
on October 16, 1983 and on November 18, 1987 (the “1978 Agreement”) and its predecessor,
the Agreement between Canada and the United States of America on Great Lakes Water Quality,
done at Ottawa on 15 April 1972, provide a vital framework for binational consultation
and cooperative action to restore, protect and enhance the water quality of the Great Lakes
to promote the ecological health of the Great Lakes basin;
REAFFIRMING their commitment to achieve the goals and objectives of the 1978 Agreement,
as amended on 16 October, 1983 and 18 November, 1987, as well as those of its 1972
predecessor agreement;
RECOGNIZING the need to update and strengthen the 1978 Agreement to address current
impacts on the quality of the Waters of the Great Lakes, and anticipate and prevent emerging
threats to the quality of the Waters of the Great Lakes,
HAVE AGREED as follows:
1
ARTICLE 1
This Protocol shall be referred to as the Great Lakes Water Quality Protocol of 2012.
ARTICLE 2
The title, preamble, article and annexes of the 1978 Agreement are amended to read as set forth
in the Appendix to this Protocol.
ARTICLE 3
This Protocol shall enter into force on the date of the last notification in an Exchange of Notes
by the Parties indicating that each Party has completed its domestic processes for approval.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective
Governments, have signed this...