Whitestone named new Associate Commissioner

Ontario has named Jim Whitestone an Associate Commissioner, completing the province’s delegation to the Great Lakes Commission. Whitestone currently serves as director of the Transportation Policy Branch in the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. He has held numerous positions in provincial government since 1986, many in Ontario’s Ministry of Finance. He holds a master’s degree in agricultural and resource economics from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guelph.

Rod Taylor will serve as Whitestone’s alternate. Taylor is manager of the Freight Office in the Transportation Policy Branch of Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation. He has been involved in policy work related to freight transportation since joining Ontario public service in 1982.

The Great Lakes Commission is a nonpartisan, binational compact agency created by state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of state legislators, agency officials and governors’ appointees from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.