Government of Canada announces over $875,000 for twenty new projects to clean up Lake Winnipeg

September 13, 2010

WINNIPEG, Man. – Minister Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Provencher on behalf of the Canada’s Environment Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice, announced $875,479 in federal funding today for twenty new community projects supported under the third and fourth rounds of the Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund.

"Today's announcement shows the Government of Canada's continued investment in grassroots community projects and academic research that are making a difference for the long-term health and sustainability of Lake Winnipeg," said Minister Toews.

"Environment Canada has a strong, comprehensive, approach to ensure clean water for all Canadians and the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative’s Stewardship Fund is an important part of that plan," said Environment Minister Jim Prentice. "It is a great example of how the Government of Canada continues to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels to take concrete and measurable actions in improving water quality for Canadians."

Initiatives supported by the Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund are high-impact projects that provide solutions for reducing nutrient loads and improving the overall ecological sustainability of the lake and its watershed. In previous rounds of the Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund, the Government of Canada has invested $1.2 million to support community and government projects that are reducing the amount of phosphorus and other harmful substances from entering the lake, restoring urban and rural streams and riverbanks, and educating the public on how to help clean up Lake Winnipeg.

Environment Canada has also invested an additional $12 million through the Lake Winnipeg Basin Initiative in a comprehensive research, monitoring and information program within the Lake Winnipeg watershed, to provide the information needed to help clean up the lake.

This investment to clean up Lake Winnipeg 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.