Media Backgrounder
April 21, 2004
ONTARIO INVESTS IN PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION UNDER
THE CANADA-ONTARIO AGREEMENT ON THE GREAT LAKES
The Ontario government is committed to helping protect and conserve the Great
Lakes. Many of Ontario’s strong environmental initiatives and actions will help
clean up and restore these natural treasures for future generations. The largest
of these initiatives is the 2002 Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the
Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA), which has been signed by eight federal
agencies and three provincial agencies.
Ontario is investing $50 million over five years to help clean up the Great
Lakes and protect the province’s unique coastal environment through the implementation
of COA-directed actions.
This year, the McGuinty government expects to invest approximately $13 million
on various priority initiatives with local Great Lakes partners across Ontario
to improve and conserve the Great Lakes Basin. The money will be allocated to
specific projects over the course of the year. The 2004/05 investment continues
to build on the success of past year’s projects.
Last year, the government invested $10 million in priority Great Lakes actions.
Approximately $3.6 million was invested in projects led by the Ministry of Environment
and $6.4 million in projects led by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Examples
of projects undertaken in 2003/04 include:
Ministry of the Environment 2003/04 projects include:
- Five projects totaling $730,000 to improve storm water management and to
research the removal of ammonia, pharmaceuticals, and COA Tier I and II priority
pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides;
- Eight projects totaling $260,000 to identify and reduce pollutant sources
from air emissions, sediments, bacteria and dental amalgam;
- Three projects totaling $185,000 to help rehabilitate the Southern Grand
and Lower Thames River, and to prepare guidelines for protecting water quality;
- Eight projects totaling $486,000 to improve understanding of phosphorous-loading
models, the status of “Beneficial Use Impairments,” and federal/provincial
data on the Great Lakes. (A “beneficial use” is the ability of living organisms
to use the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem without adverse consequence);
- Thirteen projects totaling $771,000 for environmental monitoring of surface
water at Severn Sound, Wheatley Harbour, and Detroit River Great Lakes Areas
of Concern, and nearshore monitoring for each Great Lake;
- Four projects totaling $135,000 for sediment remediation strategies in
the Niagara River, Thunder Bay and Peninsula Harbour, and the development
of a sediment remediation guidance document for all Areas of Concern;
- Eight projects totaling $151,000 for education and outreach on sport fish
contamination, incineration and harmful pollutants;
- Eight projects totaling $412,000 to support and implement activities for
the Niagara River, Hamilton Harbour, St. Lawrence River, and Toronto Great
Lakes Remedial Action Plans, and Lake-wide Management Plan activities for
Lake Ontario; and
- $470,000 for COA implementation, administration, policy and program development,
assessment and reporting.
Ministry of Natural Resources 2003/04 Projects include:
- Seven projects totaling $175,000 to stabilize and rehabilitate stream banks
to reduce impacts from agricultural sources in the Bay of Quinte, St. Lawrence
River/Cornwall, and St. Clair River Areas of Concern;
- Twelve projects totaling $557,000 to rehabilitate aquatic and riparian
habitat leading to the reestablishment of fish and wildlife populations in
the Niagara River, Nipigon Bay, St. Mary’s River, Spanish Harbour, Metro Toronto,
and St. Clair River Areas of Concern;
- Thirteen projects totaling $704,000 for fish community monitoring and reporting
of the Spanish River, St. Clair River, Detroit River, Bay of Quinte, Severn
Sound, Niagara River, St. Lawrence/Cornwall Areas of Concern;
- Fifty-seven projects totaling $2,820,000 to rehabilitate, conserve and
protect fish and wildlife habitats, and protected areas;
- Four projects totaling $384,000 for education initiatives to reduce the
entry and spread of invasive species throughout the basin;
- Three projects totaling $61,000 to support fisheries stewardship councils
including training and outreach materials for community stream stewards;
- Three projects totaling $221,000 to undertake research to increase knowledge
about the impacts of invasive species on the aquatic ecosystem, how to manage
fisheries in a changing environment, and supporting student involvement in
the “Great Lakes Need Great Watersheds” research conference; and
- Twenty-four projects totaling $1,487,000 to monitor and report the status
of fish and wildlife populations and natural heritage values within the Great
Lakes Basin.
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| Contacts: |
|
| Arthur Chamberlain
Minister Dombrowsky’s Office
(416) 314-5139
Ginette Albert
Minister Ramsay’s Office
(416) 314-2212
|
John Steele
Ministry of the Environment
(416) 314-6666
Steve Payne
Ministry of Natural Resources
(416) 314-2103 |
|
