Government of Canada announces $5.5 million for 44 new projects to clean up Lake Simcoe

Jackson’s Point, ON – August 27, 2009 – On behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for York Simcoe, announced today the third and fourth groups of projects under the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund.

“We’re investing in Lake Simcoe because it is a critical resource that provides safe drinking water for eight municipalities and, through recreational activities, generates more than $200 million a year for the local economy,” said Minister Van Loan. “These projects represent an investment that will help to ensure Lake Simcoe has a healthy future.”

“Environment Canada has a strong, comprehensive, approach to ensure clean water for all Canadians, and the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund is an important part of that plan,” said Environment Minister Jim Prentice. “It is a great example of how we collaborate with stakeholders to take concrete and measurable actions that improve water quality.”

Initiatives funded by the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund are designed to preserve and protect the environment of Lake Simcoe. Forty-four projects will receive a total of $5,504,231 as part of an overall investment of $30 million over five years, which was announced in February 2008.

“Through our previous Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund funding, we’ve engaged our partners to undertake 23 projects that have helped to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake by 15 kg annually. We’re proud of the fact that we’ve been able to restore 3.5 km of urban and rural stream banks and planted over 6,500 trees and shrubs,” said Gayle Wood, Chief Administrative Officer of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.

This investment to clean up Lake Simcoe is part of the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Clean Water, which includes projects like the Health of the Oceans initiative to protect Canada’s three oceans, the clean-up of contaminated sediment in Great Lakes Areas of Concern, and action on pollution in Lake Winnipeg.