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For Release
May 14, 2004

Joint Cooperation on Lake Winnipeg Announced

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - The governments of Canada and Manitoba today announced joint investment of $150,000 for the establishment of a Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee. The committee will coordinate a Canada-Manitoba framework agreement on scientific research and basin-wide action plan to enhance Lake Winnipeg water quality. This agreement will identify joint priorities and funding sources; it will also clarify respective roles and responsibilities for implementation of the plan. The Committee will work closely with the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board, the Red River Basin Commission, as well as a team of federal-provincial officials to support them in coordination of programs that can be put in place quickly to promote the health of Canada's sixth Great Lake.

Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, on behalf of the federal ministers, Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), and Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Steve Ashton, Manitoba Minister of Water Stewardship, made the joint announcement today.

"Lake Winnipeg plays a significant role in the economy of Manitoba, and sustaining the lake today and in future generations requires wise environmental management and sound resource planning," said Minister Alcock. "The work of this committee, with the support of the Red River Basin Commission, will help to preserve existing economic activities and identify opportunities that will ensure future sustainable economic development."

"There is a good deal of work already underway to improve the health of Lake Winnipeg through our Lake Winnipeg Action Plan and the work of the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board." said Ashton. "This Implementation Committee will provide added coordination through a framework agreement that it recommends to both our governments so that we may act quickly on priority areas. These range from scientific research and remedial actions to inter-provincial and international cooperation. "

The Red River Basin Commission (RRBC) is suited to assist the committee in the coordination of federal and provincial priorities for Lake Winnipeg. As an international non-governmental institution formed in 2002, the RRBC addresses land and water issues in a basin-wide context. The RRBC is made up of a 41-member Board of Directors, comprised of representatives from local government, rural municipalities, water resource districts, First Nations representation and environmental groups. Board members have been appointed by governors of North and South Dakota, Minnesota and the Premier of Manitoba.

The Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board (LWSB) was established in 2003 and represents a broad spectrum of organizations and stakeholder interest. In its first interim report it has developed 32 recommendations for reduced nutrient loading and improvement of the watershed, of which 23 have been accepted by the Province. The LWSB will be able to provide the implementation committee with the results of its extensive public consultations on Lake Winnipeg and therefore assist in the committee's work to identify cooperative action in research, infrastructure and land use planning where the governments of Canada and Manitoba share jurisdiction

The contributions for this joint initiative are as follows:

Federal funding for this initiative is included in the fiscal framework.

For additional information, contact: