SUBMISSION FROM BROCKVILLE CHAPTER

Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 5:29 PM
Subject: the Great Lakes Annex Agreement

Dear Sir,

On Sept. 28th I attended the public meeting in Kingston. The presentation was impressive and I came away thinking that the Annex was a good thing. However, as I studied it more and heard from different sources, including the legal opinion of Steven Shrybman, I began to feel that the Annex would be a big mistake for Canada.

The criteria designed to protect the Great Lakes, and which at first glance appear to be able to do just that, on second glance appear to be unworkable. As was mentioned at the meeting in Kingston there is no cap on the amount of water which could be taken out of the basin. This alone is a major threat to the lakes. Also there is no limit to the number of small diversions which come under the line. This would also be a threat to the lakes. The criteria simply systematize the removal of water with no protection. They would not stand up to any legal challenge nor could they be enforced.

Secondly, if the Compact were in place, Canada's sovereignty would disappear. A majority of the 8 states could , with the approval of congress, allow whatever diversions out of the basin as they wished and the provinces and Canada would have no veto.

I feel that the Annex is a big water grab by the United States and that Canada should oppose it with all the resources we have.

Yours truly,

James C. Riesberry
Unit 409, 21 Liston Ave.,
Brockville, ON, K6V 7B3