Protecting fresh water is crucial to building a cleaner, safer, sustainable future for all. The Golden Horseshoe region is a vital part of the Great Lakes ecosystem, supporting industry, commerce, recreation, and culture. The region also holds spiritual and cultural importance for Indigenous peoples.
On January 14, the Honourable Karina Gould, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, announced on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency, an investment of over $700,000 in five freshwater projects for recipients and projects based in the Hamilton region. The Honourable Karina Gould is joined by Members of Parliament Lisa Hepfner and Chad Collins.
As part of the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative, these projects tackle key environmental challenges affecting the Great Lakes' water quality and ecosystem health. They also advance by delivering on Canada's commitments under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. These initiatives will be led by members of the Hamilton and Halton communities, allowing for a collaborative approach and shared knowledge on freshwater science and management, both of which are central to the Canada Water Agency.
Among the projects funded are the following:
- McMaster University will receive $292,000 to research climate change-induced water-level changes in coastal marshes in eastern and northern Georgian Bay.
- The Halton Region Conservation Authority will be awarded $210,000 to coordinate the Remedial Action Plan for the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.
- Redeemer University will receive $69,692 to monitor nutrient and bacterial contamination in the Chedoke Creek and Red Hill Creek watersheds.
- The Bay Area Restoration Council of Hamilton and Halton Inc. will receive $140,000 to support communications, engagement, and leadership for the implementation of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan.
- The Governing Council of the University of Toronto will receive $75,000 to examine the impact of rainfall on nutrient pollution in two key, combined sewer overflows in Hamilton Harbour.
This investment will help restore water quality in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern and across the Great Lakes. Projects like these drive actions to improve water quality and ecosystem health and will complement the effects of key local projects, such as upgrades to the Woodward Avenue Wastewater Treatment plant and sediment remediation at Randle Reef, to yield measurable results in Hamilton Harbour. Through the newly established Canada Water Agency, the Government is strengthening coordination and collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to address freshwater challenges and opportunities in the Great Lakes.
Quotes
"The Great Lakes are essential to millions of people in Canada and the United States. From the drinking water they provide and their cultural importance to Indigenous communities, to the many businesses they support, investments like those made today will have an immeasurable impact on the southern Ontario community. We need to protect these lakes and Areas of Concern to ensure a more sustainable future for our children and grandchildren."
- The Honourable Karina Gould, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
"Protecting fresh water is essential to our community, including in the Great Lakes and Areas of Concern. The community-led projects announced today in Southwestern Ontario will contribute to restoring this Area of Concern and ensuring the protection of these vital, shared lakes for years to come."
- The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency
"Our freshwater resources in the Great Lakes are critical for the sustainability of our Hamilton community. These initiatives will play a key role in restoring and preserving these essential ecosystems, guaranteeing that future generations can continue to rely on these waters for drinking, recreation, and economic prosperity. I am proud to be a part of this continued effort to protect our fresh water."
- Lisa Hepfner, Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain
"The Great Lakes are not just a vital resource they are the heart of our communities. For the people of southern Ontario, these waters provide drinking water, support livelihoods, and are a key part of our culture. These partner-led projects will help restore and protect these waters, ensuring that the families and businesses who rely on them can thrive for generations to come."
- Chad Collins, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East Stoney Creek
"Conservation Halton is grateful to the federal government for its long-term support and the funding allocated to ensure the sustainability of our precious water resources the Great Lakes. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership to restore watersheds, improve water quality, and remediate the Hamilton Harbour."
- Chandra Sharma, President and Chief Executive Officer, Conservation Halton
"On top of supporting biodiversity, identifying resilient wetlands will also protect natural infrastructure for climate-change adaptation. Research over the past 20 years in our lab shows that the biodiversity of fish and plant communities in certain wetlands were more resilient than others to extremes in water-level fluctuations caused by climate change. Over the next four years, we will collect field data to validate our resilience index. Once validated, we will use it to classify the degree of resilience of all mapped coastal marshes in eastern and northern Georgian Bay."
- Dr. Patricia Chow-Fraser, Professor, Department of Biology and Director, Office of Undergraduate Research, Faculty of Science, McMaster University
"The Bay Area Restoration Council's project supports the ongoing implementation of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan with public outreach and communications activities that bolster decision-making and provide community members with substantive opportunities to participate in restoration activities. The Canada Water Agency's funding support is vital to enabling this significant and necessary engagement with the Hamilton Harbour community to continue."
- Dr. Chris McLaughlin, Executive Director, Bay Area Restoration Council
Quick facts
- Hamilton Harbour is a major shipping hub and one of Canada's largest heavy-industry centres.
- Canada has invested over $46.3 million to clean up Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour, significantly improving water quality.
- The Great Lakes provide drinking water to one in four Canadians and are vital to our health, ecosystems, and economy.
- The Government of Canada is investing $650 million over 10 years in the Freshwater Action Plan to protect and restore critical freshwater resources.
- The Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement has guided joint efforts to protect these vital waters since 1972.
- The Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health outlines cooperative efforts to restore and conserve the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem.
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