Government of Canada Hosts Public Information Session on Lake Winnipeg Basin
Initiative

GIMLI, MB, Nov. 5 /CNW/ - James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk—Interlake, on behalf of the Government of Canada, hosted a public information session today to share information on the activities and progress being made to clean up Lake Winnipeg through the Government of Canada's four-year Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative.

In today's public information session, the general public and media were invited to hear presentations and meet face-to-face with the scientists, community project leaders and government program officials who are leading federal efforts to address some of the key problems facing the lake. Foremost among these problems is an overabundance of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which contribute to increasing blue-green algae blooms.

"It is encouraging to hear about the activities and progress by scientists, community project leaders and government partners who are working together to help clean up Lake Winnipeg," said MP Bezan. "We look forward to continued progress over the next two years of this Initiative."

The work that is underway through the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative and its many partners demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring clean water for all Canadians. The monitoring, research and clean-up activities that are occurring across Lake Winnipeg and its basin provide the foundation for decision-makers to ensure the long-term sustainability of this precious freshwater resource.

The Government of Canada has a strong, comprehensive approach to ensure clean water for all Canadians, and has taken concrete and measurable actions to implement it over the past few years. This includes investments in monitoring, research and clean-up of problem areas, as well as building partnerships to protect our fresh water. 

Through the $17.7 million Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative, Environment Canada and partners have been working for the past few years to clean up Lake Winnipeg and its basin. Now at its half-way point, significant progress has already been made in the initiative's science program, governance efforts and community stewardship projects.

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative is part of the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Clean Water, which includes other projects such as the clean-up of contaminated sediment in Great Lakes Areas of Concern, and the clean up of Lake Simcoe.

For more information on Government of Canada actions to clean up Lake Winnipeg, visit Environment Canada's website at http://www.ec.gc.ca/doc/eau-water/winnipeg_e.html.

Related documents:

• Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative - Two Year Progress Report (2010)
• Overview of the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative (2010)

(Également offert en français)

                                                             

For further information:

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008

Environment Canada's Twitter page: http://twitter.com/environmentca

Environment Canada's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/environmentcan