The MNO will be holding three focus group sessions within the Great Lakes Basin in the upcoming days to review the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) and provide feedback on areas of the agreement that are important to the Métis Community. We welcome all interested Métis citizens to participate in a session near you; however, we also hope to extend an invite to Métis citizens with a science background and/or users of the Great Lakes who can join us to lend their expertise and perspectives on the Great Lakes during these sessions.

We are seeking your views on how well the GLWQA has worked so far and how effective it has been. In preparation for the focus group sessions I have attached a copy of the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Quick Facts on the Agreement a MNO Draft Power Point Presentation on the GLWQA and list of potential focus group questions for your consideration.

The three (3) focus group sessions will be held in the evenings at the following locations:

• March 21, 2007 (6:00pm – 7:30pm) @ the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Community Council office, 26 Queen Street East
  
  
• March 26, 2007 (6:00pm – 7:30pm) @ the Thunder Bay Metis Community Centre (226 May Street South) Thunder Bay, ON
  
  
• March 27, 2007 (6:00pm – 7:30pm) @ the Georgian Bay Métis Community Council office 9170 County Rd. W., Unit 301, Midland, ON

If you are interested in participating please contact Paul Heighington at the MNO Office in Ottawa at 1-800-263-4889 or email paulh@metisnation.org. Your support and participation in this initiative is important to the MNO and will ensure a strong voice for the Métis Nation on State of the Great Lakes for years to come.