Through this initiative, the Government of Canada takes action to address the most significant environmental challenges affecting Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health by delivering on Canada’s commitments under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. It focuses on 8 priority areas for action:
working with others to protect the Great Lakes
restoring Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs)
preventing toxic and nuisance algae
assessing and enhancing the resilience of Great Lakes coastal wetlands
evaluating and identifying at risk nearshore waters
reducing releases of harmful chemicals
engaging Indigenous Peoples in addressing Great Lakes issues
increasing public engagement through citizen science
Funding
To assist in achieving this goal, we fund actions by others to:
restore AOCs by supporting action at the local level to restore water quality and aquatic ecosystem health through projects identified in AOC remedial action plans
prevent toxic and nuisance algae by increasing participation in the application of phosphorus load reduction measures and by demonstrating innovative approaches and best practices and promoting broad uptake and application
reduce releases of harmful chemicals by increasing participation in the application of beyond-compliance measures to reduce releases of chemicals of mutual concern by developing, implementing, assessing and promoting use of innovative approaches
engage Indigenous Peoples in addressing Great Lakes issues by enhancing Indigenous capacity to address Great Lakes issues through projects that engage Indigenous Peoples at the community level
increase public engagement through citizen science by enhancing Canadians’ knowledge of and engagement in addressing Great Lakes issues through participation in citizen science
The current application submission period is open for projects that restore AOCs, prevent toxic and nuisance algae, reduce releases of harmful chemicals and engage Indigenous Peoples. Funding to increase public engagement through citizen science is fully allocated.
For funding under the Great Lakes Protection Initiative, applications are now being accepted until March 3, 2020, with the exception of the engaging Indigenous Peoples priority. Applications for projects that support the engaging Indigenous Peoples priority will be accepted until March 17, 2020.
Visit Environmental Funding Programs to apply.
