BARRIE, Ontario – Bruce Stanton, M.P. for Simcoe North, along with Environment Minister John Baird, the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, and Patrick Brown, M.P for Barrie, today announced new, long-term funding to preserve and protect the environment of Lake Simcoe. The additional $18 million announced builds on the $12 million that was announced last year by the federal government and brings the Government’s total investment to $30 million over five years.

“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.

“This is terrific news for residents and municipalities around Lake Simcoe. After announcing the initial funding of $12 million last year, we established the Protect and Preserve the Environment of Lake Simcoe (PROPEL) committee. They reported back to the Minister that the Lake required additional, long-term funding. We are delivering; and now it’s time for the province to join us. “

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.

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.

More information on the Lake Simcoe clean-up initiative is available at www.ec.gc.ca