Ontario Protecting the Great Lakes
July 28, 2025
Local projects part of province’s $7.3 million investment to improve the health of local waterways and strengthen communities
July 17th 2025
Thunder Bay — Ontario is providing approximately $7.3 million to local organizations across the province for projects that will help strengthen the health and resiliency of the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, which together make up an unparalleled natural resource that supports communities, tourism and agriculture. This includes $346,250 to support 3 projects in Thunder Bay.
“The Great Lakes hold 20 per cent of the world’s fresh surface water — providing vital water resources to our communities and driving tourism and economic growth across the province,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Our government is proud to support organizations whose hard work and innovation will help preserve the Great Lakes for generations to come.”
Local Great Lakes initiatives are funded by two provincial programs, the Great Lakes Program and the Great Lakes Local Action Fund. Projects selected for funding in Thunder Bay include:
- Lakehead University: Actions Toward Delisting
– This project supports collaboration among provincial and federal agencies, Indigenous communities, and local stakeholders to advance the redesignation of beneficial use impairments in Thunder Bay, Peninsula Harbour, and Jackfish Bay. It also supports the potential delisting of Peninsula Harbour and Nipigon Bay Areas of Concern.
- Bare Point Developments Inc: Superior Fine Papers Wetland Enhancement and Stream Restoration
– This project will restore valuable coastal wetland habitat at the Superior Fine Papers site in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern. The restoration will contribute significantly to the redesignation of the Fish and Wildlife Beneficial Use Impairment to “not impaired” status.
- City of Thunder Bay: Wetland and Shoreline Restoration
– This project will restore wetland and nearshore wildlife habitat and improve drainage at the Pool 6 lands in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern. These efforts will help advance the redesignation of the Fish and Wildlife Beneficial Use Impairment.
“By restoring wetlands, improving water quality, and enhancing wildlife habitat, we’re safeguarding our Great Lakes for future generations.” said The Hon. Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay–Atikokan. “Thank you to Lakehead University, Bare Point Developments, and the City of Thunder Bay for leading these important initiatives that strengthen both our environment and our communities.”
Projects selected for funding are led by community-based organizations, municipalities, conservation authorities, academic institutions and Indigenous communities to protect, conserve and restore the Great Lakes and their watersheds. Funding for these projects is part of the government’s commitment to the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health and Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy.
QUICK FACTS
- Of the $7.3 million investment, $5.5 million is provided through the 2024/25 Great Lakes Program and nearly $1.8 million is provided through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.
- The Great Lakes economy is the third largest in the world. Almost 83 per cent of Ontario’s power generation and 95 per cent of Ontario’s agricultural lands depend on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin.
- Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested $80.7 million in approximately 679 projects to safeguard the Great Lakes. During that time, 52 environmental clean-up actions have taken place across 17 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes.
- Working with the Great Lakes community partners, our government is making progress on actions included in Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy, such as:
- restoring 14 Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes
- restoring and enhancing over 9,900 acres of wetlands across Ontario through about 590 projects with $31 million in funding under the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program
- expanding the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail so it now stretches over 3,600 kilometres and connects 170 communities, villages and First Nation communities.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES