Harper Government announces new projects to improve South-eastern Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe watersheds

PARRY SOUND, ON, Jan. 16, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Parry Sound─Muskoka, 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, was in Parry Sound today to announce $8 million in funding for 32 environmental projects that will improve the ecosystem health of the Lake Simcoe and South-eastern Georgian Bay watersheds.

Today's announcement marks the second round of funding under the renewed and expanded Lake Simcoe/South-eastern Georgian Bay Clean-up Fund, which aims to restore the ecological health of Lake Simcoe and South-eastern Georgian Bay and improve water quality for the residents and wildlife of the region.

As part of this funding, the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve will receive $191,305 to work with three municipalities over two years to expand monitoring in Georgian Bay and ensure consistency in how nutrients are measured by stakeholders conducting similar monitoring.

Quick Facts

• Economic Action Plan 2012 committed $29 million over five years to continue to support the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund and extend it to include South-eastern Georgian Bay.
• The Lake Simcoe/South-eastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund supports community‑based projects that are focused on reducing phosphorous levels, restoring ecosystem health and improving water quality. This Fund builds on the success of the Government's $30-million investment under the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund and is part of the Government's comprehensive approach to ensure clean water for all Canadians, which includes projects like the clean-up of contaminated sediment in Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
• The Lake Simcoe/Southeastern Georgian Bay Clean-Up Fund supports ongoing work under other Government of Canada initiatives, including the Canada–United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2014, and the National Conservation Plan.

Quotes

"Lake Simcoe and South-eastern Georgian Bay are important natural resources, vital sources of drinking water and regional economic drivers that support the tourism and recreation industries. To protect these important water resources, our Government is investing in new environmental projects focused on restoring ecosystem health and improving water quality for residents in the region."

– The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Parry Sound─Muskoka

"The Government of Canada is committed to protecting and restoring Canada's water resources for the benefit of all Canadians. Supporting clean-up projects in Lake Simcoe helps to ensure the long-term sustainability of Canada's lakes and waterways."

– The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for York-Simcoe

"This two-year project will help to improve the coordination and collection of water quality and nutrient information in eastern Georgian Bay. This will provide improved environmental information, help to conserve critical habitats and their species, and help to mitigate potential sources of pollution within the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve."

– Greg Mason, General Manager, Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve

Associated Document

• For more information and to view a backgrounder on this announcement, please visit the Government of Canada's website.

Associated Links

• Cleaning Up Lake Simcoe and South-eastern Georgian Bay
• Canada–Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2014

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SOURCE Environment Canada

Contacts: Ted Laking, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Media Relations, Environment Canada, 819-934-8008