Bill Carr, acting western hemisphere team leader for the Office of International Relations and Protocol of Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, has been named chair of the Great Lakes Commission’s Ontario Delegation. He replaces Lorraine Ratnik, who is retiring from provincial service. Carr has worked for the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade for 10 years, and previously held positions in the province’s Ministry of Environment. In his current position, he provides policy and operational information and advice regarding the conduct of Ontario’s international relations in the western hemisphere.

Maurice Boisvert, the government of Québec’s Chicago delegate, will chair the Commission’s Québec Delegation. He replaces Donald Leblanc, who will remain active as an Associate Commissioner. Boisvert has held numerous positions within the government of Québec, including deputy minister at the Ministère de la Famille et de l’Enfance, associate deputy minister at the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration, and associate deputy minister of regional services (forests) at the Ministère des Ressources naturelles. He has also held various positions in the health and social services fields in the last 20 years, including serving as assistant deputy minister at the Ministère de la Santé.

Welcome to them both!

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The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Nathaniel E. Robinson (Wisconsin), 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 Quebec 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.