MCCORMICK AND MILLIKEN ANNOUNCE $42,750 FOR GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS FOR THE BAY OF QUINTE

Napanee/Kingston, March 1, 2004 – Larry McCormick, M.P. for Hastings-Frontenac- Lennox and Addington and Peter Milliken, M.P. for Kingston and the Islands today announced $42,750 for a project to help restore the Bay of Quinte. The fund supports projects that improve the health of the ecosystem in of Areas of Concern (AOC) around the Great Lakes. These areas have been identified as requiring work to restore their ecosystem.

“This funding represents the Government`s commitment to restoring and protecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem” said Mr. McCormick, MP. “This significant project builds on the work in other parts of the AOC by completing the Natural Heritage Strategy for our region.” added Mr. Milliken. 

The Government of Canada is committed to restoring and sustaining the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. In addition to funding, both collaboration and partnership are essential to successfully restoring the Great Lakes. There is still work to be done in the Great Lakes, and governments alone cannot address the entirety of restoration. Local residents, business, conservation authorities, area associations and other levels of government are working together to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for the Great Lakes. 

The funding announced today is from the Government of Canada’s Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, first announced by Minister Anderson in July 2000. This five year, $30 million program, will help restore Canadian AOCs. This funding is an important component of the Government of Canada’s Great Lakes Basin 2020 Action Plan which is an inter﷓governmental partnership between Health Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Heritage, Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture and Agri﷓Food Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada and Environment Canada.

Areas of Concern, designated pursuant to the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, are areas where the beneficial uses or the area’s ability to support aquatic life was impaired. Fifteen of the 17 originally designated AOCs in Canada remain, of which five are shared with the United States. There are an additional 26 identified AOCs around the Great Lakes within the U.S. Leadership and collaboration, particularly within the local communities, have resulted in the delisting of Collingwood Harbour 1994, and Severn Sound in 2002. In addition, Spanish Harbour is in a state of recovery with solid progress being made throughout the Basin. 


A list of projects receiving funds can be found on http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/.

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