Government of Canada announces Funding for Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Projects

July 13, 2010

BARRIE, Ont. – On behalf of Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, and Bruce Stanton, Member of Parliament for Simcoe North, today announced that eight projects will receive funding under round five of the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund.

Initiatives funded by the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund are designed to preserve and protect the environment of Lake Simcoe.

“Since 2008, Environment Canada has funded approximately 100 local projects through the $30 million Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund,” said M.P. Brown. “We’re proud to be helping members of the local Lake Simcoe community take real action to restore the health of this important lake through eight new projects for a total of $1.6 million.”

“Projects funded under previous rounds of the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund have produced positive results and are a great example of what we can achieve when we work in partnership,” said M.P. Bruce Stanton. ”Locally, this Fund is supporting important initiatives such as the Septic System Funding Program for Lake Simcoe Municipalities.”

“Lake Simcoe is an important natural resource, as well as a regional economic driver, and this Government’s Clean-Up Fund to restore the health of the lake is an investment in the future of the region,” said Minister Prentice.

The Septic System Funding Program will receive $760,000, and represents the third phase of a multi-year initiative. Building on the success of Phases 1 and 2, this program will continue to administer grant funds in order to encourage landowners within 300 metres of Lake Simcoe to upgrade and/or repair their current septic systems. This program will help to reduce high levels of phosphorus and other contaminants flowing directly into Lake Simcoe and nearby watercourses.

According to Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority Chair Virginia Hackson, the Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund “has been extraordinarily successful. We’ve undertaken more than 60 projects that would not have been possible otherwise. The positive impacts on the watershed will be felt for years to come.”

This investment to clean up Lake Simcoe 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.