Windsor, Ontario, February 21, 2008 - Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, announced today that the Government of Canada is investing up to $600,000 to help clean up the Detroit River. "The actions taken now to improve the state of the Detroit River will not only produce a cleaner environment, but will also stimulate regional development," said Mr. Watson. "We are working to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for the nearly three million citizens in Canada and the United States, who rely on the watersheds of Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and the connecting Detroit River for drinking water. We are proud to be partners in important initiative."The funding announced today will go towards the excavation and removal of PCB-contaminated sediment and bank soil. The project will begin in the fall of 2008 and be completed by 2009. "Our Government is committed to clean water and clean air and to delivering results for Canadians," said Minister Baird. "Thanks to the hard work of MP Jeff Watson, our Government is taking real action to help clean up contaminated sediment in the Detroit River. This investment, as part of our comprehensive Action Plan for Clean Water, will make a real difference for Windsor and Essex County."This major investment to clean up the Detroit River is part of the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Clean Water. Recently, the Government has also taken action to protect water quality, including tough new regulations against the dumping of raw sewage and improving raw sewage treatment in municipalities and first nation communities across Canada. These measures will help filter out substances like phosphates, which can lead to excessive blue-green algae production.Related Document:Cleaning Up the Detroit River - Part of the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Clean Water [2008-02-21, Backgrounder] For further information, please contact:Eric RicherPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of the Environment(819) 997-1441Media RelationsEnvironment Canada(819) 934-8008 or 1-888-908-8008
