Tilson Announces Investment in Great Lakes Clean-up Project
MP David Tilson with Pete Davis, Project Biologist for Ontario Streams
BOLTON, ON – David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, was in Bolton today to announce a new environmental clean-up project to improve water quality and restore local ecosystems within the Great Lakes basin.
The Government of Canada’s Great Lakes Sustainability Fund is contributing more than $2.8 million towards over 30 new projects in Canadian Great Lakes Areas of Concern, including $20,000 to Ontario Streams for its Caledon Headwaters Rehabilitation Initiative project in the Toronto and Region Area of Concern.
The goals of the Caledon Headwaters Rehabilitation Initiative are to protect and rehabilitate fisheries habitat within the many headwater tributaries of the Town of Caledon through in-stream habitat enhancement; mitigation of barriers to fish passage; regeneration of riparian areas; Atlantic salmon reintroduction; and fisheries monitoring. Ontario Streams’ objectives are to rehabilitate degraded aquatic habitats, increase communication amongst individuals and organizations involved in conserving aquatic environments in Ontario, and act as a catalyst to empower communities in conserving their local environment through partnership building and the provision of resources.
These environmental projects support the Government of Canada’s National Conservation Plan to conserve and restore our waters and lands while encouraging Canadian families to connect with natural spaces.
Quick Facts
- Since 2006, the Government of Canada has invested nearly $403 million in targeted actions to restore and protect Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health.
- This includes approximately $23 million to support more than 400 partnered projects in Canadian Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
- Projects supported by the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund typically focus on restoring fish and wildlife habitat and populations, cleaning up contaminated sediment, and controlling pollution from municipal wastewater, urban storm water and rural run off.
- Great Lakes Areas of Concern are areas where the environment and water quality are severely degraded. Restoring them is a priority because they impact the health of the ecosystem locally and collectively across the basin.
Quotes
“Our Government continues to invest in targeted actions to improve water quality for Canadians and conserve important ecosystems around the Great Lakes. Our most recent investments under the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund will go toward clean-up projects that advance the aims of the National Conservation Plan and build on the conservation and restoration efforts already underway to protect this important environmental resource.”
– Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council
“To protect the Great Lakes today and for future generations, our Government has taken several actions to improve water quality and safeguard the health of Canadians. This year’s projects support the goals of our National Conservation Plan by facilitating collaborative efforts among local residents, businesses, conservation authorities and other levels of government to restore and sustain important local ecosystems within the Great Lakes basin.”
– David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon
"The rivers of Toronto have significant value to economical and cultural growth of the city and its surrounding communities. Actions to preserve or rehabilitate our waterways will not only enhance our natural environment, but will also strengthen our communities, as grass-root organizations and local volunteers work alongside conservation authorities and non-profit groups to tackle environmental issues at the community level. Federal grants, such as the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, have been essential to small community groups that have familiarity with their local streams, and the passion to see their community benefit from rehabilitation efforts"
-- Pete Davis, Project Biologist for Ontario Streams
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