Since USO launched this petition, the Lake Ontario outflows have been DECREASED over a dozen times (even though the lake continues to be alarmingly 18 inches above where it should be). The IJC's BIG announcement on November 21st declared that they would allow the board to 'deviate' from Plan 2014 - and the board has reduced outflows 4 more times since (!). The truth is, the board has had the power to deviate since May 7th of 2019, but instead has chosen to protect only the interests of the shipping industry at the expense of the shoreline. Such empty IJC announcements serves to soothe media and politicians while confusing the public. All words, no positive action, and the very real risk to the shoreline increases daily. This is not climate change, it is hostile policy.

Shipping has financed a large PR campaign and are lobbying aggressively to keep the outflows low (and therefore keep the levels high). We see unsubstantiated, fear-inducing headlines of economic peril, to the tune of 250M a week, if they increase outflows. But what we DON'T see from the IJC is fair, balanced and transparent decisions that considers the price of doing nothing:

1. the cost of ongoing and severe ecological and environmental damage (sometimes irreversible),
2. the prolonged injury to mental health as 1000's of families face the trauma of repeat flooding,
3. the financial burden borne by municipalities, families and shore-based businesses being crippled by high water,
4. the continued physical hazard faced by emergency responders, volunteers, and home flood fighters.

We have reached over 17,000 signatures, and MP Phillip Lawrence is preparing to take the petition to Prime Minister Trudeau. LET'S GET TO 20,000. Sign TODAY. Let the IJC know that profits above all-else is NOT balanced policy. Shipping must be suspended, and the social, environmental/ecological and local economic costs of catastrophic flooding must take priority.