ABSTRACT
Th is chapter will look at the formation, history and role of governments and institutions in the water rich region of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin. As we examine the development of the region, one thing becomes clear; water is a unifying factor that has infl uenced and continues to infl uence the role and relationships of government at many levels and spanning two countries. As we enter deeper into the 21st century, it will be interesting to see how the region’s system of governance evolves to meet the challenges of a changing world where environmental protection, resource management and economic development are requiring more than ever, a regional if not a global approach to management.
