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U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04), co-chairs of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, requested Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to confirm Canada has completed its commitment to transfer oversight and funding responsibilities for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to Global Affairs Canada. The change would align Canada’s approach with the United States and strengthen binational stewardship of the Great Lakes fisheries under the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries of 1954. The representatives value the long and lasting relationship between the United States and Canada and will continue working to strengthen the bonds tying the two nations together. 

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

We are writing to follow up on a letter we sent to your predecessor on June 6, 2023. This letter brought attention to a matter of concern regarding the implementation of the Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries of 1954, the bilateral treaty that governs the approach to Great Lakes fishery management between the United States and Canada.

Since 1954, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) has been instrumental in addressing shared, binational issues related to the fishery between our two nations, including controlling the invasive, destructive sea lamprey that threaten these shared waters. Thanks to the Commission’s tireless work, native species have recovered and our world-class recreational fishery has rebounded along with a mass of new scientific research and information. The Commission has united our two nations for our mutual benefit, and for the benefit of future generations of Canadians and Americans. 

On May 1, 2023, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans adopted a motion to study the manner and mechanism in which the GLFC interfaces with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). After hearing from witnesses, the Committee found, “…that a conflict of interest exists and that the machinery of government function for the GLFC should be transitioned from DFO to Global Affairs Canada (GAC).” This finding was later supported by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, by the Senate of Canada’s Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans Committee, and by several MPs and Canadian Senators.

On September 10, 2024, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs advised the Commission, in writing (and later verbally), that the Commission’s machinery of government would be transitioned from DFO to GAC. That commitment was also communicated to numerous Members of Congress, and to Members of your own Parliament when, on November 10, 2024, GAC representative Niall Cronin publicly informed the Senate Fisheries Committee that, “…the $19.6 million annual contribution that was part of DFO’s budget will come to Global Affairs…” These are positive developments for which Canada should be commended. The purpose of this letter is simply to confirm that these commitments fully and entirely transfer the Commission’s machinery of government functions and budget from DFO to GAC.

As co-chairs of the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force and as close allies and partners in the stewardship of these shared waters, we respectfully bring this matter to your attention. Stakeholders including the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, more than 80 Members of your Parliament, and many U.S. legislators, support this important change for GAC to fully assume all machinery of government functions and budget appropriations for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission from DFO, aligning Canada’s organizational approach with that of the United States.

Thank you for your attention to this important binational matter. We look forward to your confirmation that these commitments have been completed.