Government of Canada invests in 31 Great Lakes clean-up projects

QUINTE WEST, Ontario, April 23, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - On behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, Dr. Colin Carrie was in Quinte West, Ontario, today to celebrate 31 environmental clean-up projects in the Great Lakes. The projects, valued at $1.88 million, are funded by the Government of Canada's Great Lakes Sustainability Fund.

Since 1989, the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund has supported more than 900 partnered projects to help clean up Canadian Great Lakes Areas of Concern.

This past year alone, the supported projects leveraged $3.76 million in funding from industry, academia and other government agencies. Working together to complete these projects is an important step towards protecting this vast natural resource for generations to come.

Quick Facts

• Great Lakes Areas of Concern are areas where the environment and water quality are severely degraded. Restoring them is a priority because they impact the health of the ecosystem locally and across the basin.
  
• Projects supported by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund typically focus on restoring fish and wildlife habitat and populations, cleaning up contaminated sediment, and controlling pollution from municipal wastewater, urban storm water and rural run-off.
  

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to delivering a clean and healthy environment for Canadians. Through the initiatives highlighted today, we are taking action to restore and protect water quality and priority ecosystems throughout the Great Lakes." - Dr. Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment

"The Great Lakes are fundamental to the well-being of millions of Canadians who live and work along their shores. Our Government is proud to invest in projects that will help to ensure the long-term health of this critical resource." - Rick Norlock, Member of Parliament for Northumberland—Quinte West

"The funding of habitat restoration and monitoring programs by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund will ensure that the Bay of Quinte remains a healthy and vibrant ecosystem. The Bay provides this region with numerous amenities, including everything from quality drinking water to a world class fishery. This funding will help the Bay remain a sustainable and valuable resource for future generations." - Glenda Rodgers, Chief Administrative Officer, Lower Trent Conservation and Co-Chair of the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan Restoration Council

Associated Link

The Great Lakes (Environment Canada)