The Government of Canada makes $5.5 M in funding available for environmental projects across Canada

News Release

May 17, 2017 – Gatineau, Québec – Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canadians value a safe and clean environment. Through the Environmental Damages Fund, the Government of Canada is investing in areas where environmental damage has occurred.

The Government of Canada is making $5.5 million in funding available for environmental projects under the Environmental Damages Fund in eight provinces and territories across Canada. The Environmental Damages Fund follows the polluter-pays principle, ensuring that monies collected from environmental penalties are used for projects with positive environmental impacts, in the manner intended by the court. This funding will support projects that help to restore or enhance the environment, conduct environmental research, and provide public education on environmental issues.

Funding for projects is available in: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Québec, and Saskatchewan. Eligible applicants include: non-governmental organizations; universities and academic institutions; indigenous organizations; and provincial, territorial and municipal governments. Visit our website to find funding details.

Quotes

“Through the Environmental Damages Fund we get to work at the community level with innovative organizations on projects that make a positive impact for our environment.”  – Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada

Quick Facts

  • The Environmental Damages Fund recognizes that “environmental good must follow environmental harm,” by supporting the polluter-pays principle.   This principle provides an effective and innovative mechanism for responding to environmental damage by applying fines, awards, and voluntary payments to projects that support environmental initiatives.

  • The Environmental Damages Fund ensures that funds are primarily invested in project activities that closely relate to the original incident in terms of resources that were damaged and the geographic location.

  • Fines are automatically directed to the Environmental Damages Fund under 10 federal statutes including: the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Associated Links

Contacts

Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
613-462-5473

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Twitter page

Environment and Natural Resources in Canada’s Facebook page

Page details

Date modified: