BARRIE, Ont. -- September 9, 2011 -- Today, Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, announced that the Government of Canada will continue its support for the clean up of Lake Simcoe.
The Government will invest $2.9M in the seventh round of the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund, as part of the Action Plan for Clean Water. Initiatives funded by the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund are designed to preserve and protect the environment of Lake Simcoe.
"This government is committed to ensuring cleaner waters from coast to coast for all Canadians. Since 2008, the Government of Canada's $30 million Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund has allowed Canadians who work, live and play near Lake Simcoe to enjoy the benefits of a cleaner lake," said Minister Kent.
"The Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund makes the protection and rehabilitation of Lake Simcoe's environment a priority and we are delivering real results," said Minister Van Loan, Member of Parliament for York-Simcoe. "This latest round of projects will continue to support community groups and organizations that are working hard to protect Lake Simcoe's watershed for future generations."
"The Government of Canada understands how important a healthy Lake Simcoe is to the people of this region and sees the impact this fund has had on the community," said Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie. "With this next round of projects we will continue to make a real difference."
"The largest lake outside the Great Lakes system in Ontario, Lake Simcoe is a major recreational area, a major agricultural area and the source of drinking water to eight municipalities. This funding will enhance priority clean-up projects at the community, lake-wide and watershed-wide level," said Paul Calandra, Member of Parliament for Oak Ridges-Markham.
As part of this investment, the Corporation of the Town of Aurora will receive $650,000 towards creating an innovative engineered wetland to control urban runoff. Located in the Town of Aurora, the engineered wetland facility will treat urban runoff from 58 hectares of intensely developed lands and will reduce an estimated 60 kilograms of phosphorus per year from entering Tannery Creek, a tributary of the East Holland River, which empties into Cook's Bay in Lake Simcoe. This project demonstrates a new technology, and would be the first application of its kind in Ontario.
"The restoration of Lake Simcoe is a crucial part of our comprehensive approach to delivering clean water for all Canadians. Projects funded in the previous rounds have had significant impacts on water quality and we are proud to continue working together with local partners," said Lois Brown, Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora.
Canadians who work, live or enjoy recreation around Lake Simcoe have already benefited from the Government of Canada's effort to clean up the lake, as it preserves and improves the Lake's ability to sustain recreation, tourism, pleasure boating etc.
"Our partnership with the Government of Canada and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority will benefit our watershed by allowing us to apply state of the art treatment and stormwater management practices that will contribute to the health of Lake Simcoe. This project is a great example of how local improvements can generate global benefits," said Anca Mihail, Manager of Engineering and Capital Delivery Infrastructure and Environmental Services with the Town of Aurora.
Richard Simpson, the chair of Protect and Preserve the Environment of Lake Simcoe (PROPEL), the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund's Advisory Committee, said "The Committee is pleased to be an integral part in the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund Process. Since Round 1, project applications have greatly increased in numbers, which shows the viability and importance of these funds to the community."
This investment to clean up Lake Simcoe represents the last round of funding from the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund, and 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.
Related document:
Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund [Backgrounder 2011-09-09]
For more information, please contact:
Melissa Lantsman
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
