Government of Canada's Action Plan for Clean Water Delivers $30 Million to Clean Up Lake Simcoe

"Canadians want to know what this government is doing about improving water quality and I want to tell them we are moving quickly to restore the health of our lakes and waterways as we promised we would," said Minister Baird. "Today's announcement builds upon the significant financial commitment we have already made to cleaning up Lake Simcoe, as well as our announcement that we will be restricting the level of phosphates in laundry and dishwasher detergent across Canada. This will have a positive impact on reducing the growth of blue-green algae, an issue I know the residents around Lake Simcoe have faced."

This investment to clean up Lake Simcoe is part of our Government'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 Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour and action on pollution going into Lake Winnipeg.

"Our commitment of $30 million to Lake Simcoe will get the job done and the work starts this year," said Minister Van Loan. "Canadians expect action from government to deal with the pressing environmental issues of today, and we are taking action now for all the people who make their home around Lake Simcoe."

Other measures to protect water quality include regulations later this year to reduce pollutants in sewage and improving raw sewage treatment in municipalities and First Nation communities across Canada. These new rules, when combined with regulations to reduce phosphate and with the $8 billion allocated in the Building Canada plan to improve sewage treatment, will enhance water quality and protect the health of Canadians.

Lake Simcoe provides drinking water to eight municipalities and is known for its recreation industry, which generates more than $200 million in annual revenues. The region supports farming and recreational fishing and has recently undergone significant increased urban development.

A backgrounder on the Lake Simcoe clean-up initiative is available at www.ec.gc.ca and at the following address: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/eca.pdf

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