WINDSOR, ON – The federal government has announced a historic $76 million investment to support 50 community-led projects aimed at restoring and protecting freshwater ecosystems in the Great Lakes watershed. The funding, part of the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative, is one of the largest commitments to freshwater restoration in Canadian history.
The investment was announced by Irek Kusmierczyk, MP for Windsor—Tecumseh, and Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water, on behalf of Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. It is part of a broader $420 million pledge over 10 years under Canada’s Freshwater Action Plan.
This funding will help reverse the impacts of historical industrial pollution, improve water quality, and restore ecosystem health in several “Areas of Concern” (AOCs) across the Great Lakes. Projects will focus on reducing phosphorus runoff, preventing harmful algal blooms, and restoring critical wetlands and coastal areas.
Protecting Key Ecosystems
Among the highlighted projects, the Essex Region Conservation Authority will lead efforts to restore and protect wetlands in the Detroit River Area of Concern. This will include re-creating open-water wetlands at Fighting Island.
Thirteen new projects are also underway to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Erie, helping to curb harmful algal blooms. Key partners include the University of Windsor, Flowers Canada Growers, and the Essex Region Conservation Authority.
Additionally, the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation will implement practices to reduce phosphorus loads from the Thames River watershed into Lake Erie.
“These investments will protect the health of our freshwater ecosystems for future generations,” said Minister Guilbeault. “The Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative will not only support partner-led projects but also strengthen our commitments under the Canada–US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.”
Collaboration and Indigenous Leadership
The Canada Water Agency, newly launched as part of Canada’s strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, will lead the initiative. Its mandate includes working with provinces, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders to address freshwater challenges.
The federal investment also includes a focus on increasing Indigenous participation in Great Lakes governance and stewardship, particularly by engaging youth in water monitoring and restoration efforts.
A Long-Term Commitment
Since 2018, the federal government has committed over $3 billion to freshwater protection through initiatives like the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund and the National Adaptation Strategy. This new wave of funding, targeted specifically at the Great Lakes, aims to reverse decades of environmental degradation and restore the health of the waters that provide drinking water for one in four Canadians.
As Kusmierczyk noted, “Today’s announcement is a significant step forward to protect and restore the Great Lakes and the Detroit River, and help bring back healthy ecosystems.”
With projects like wetland restoration, phosphorus reduction, and community-based science initiatives, the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative marks a critical moment in the fight to protect Canada’s most valuable freshwater resources.
SOURCE: Environment and Climate Change Canada
