Budget allocates $12 million for Lake Simcoe environment

In a major win for the local environment, the new federal budget allocates $12 million over two years to restore and protect Lake Simcoe's environment. This follows efforts by the Hon. Peter Van Loan, MP for York-Simcoe.

"I am very pleased that the Government has delivered on a commitment I made to work to protect Lake Simcoe's environment," said Van Loan. "After years of inadequate funding, Canada's new government is taking action to improve the water we drink, clean polluted waters, protect our ecosystems and ensure the sustainability of our fish resources," he continued.

Van Loan said the money will be distributed based on decisions made by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). Although he had been lobbying for the funds for Lake Simcoe for quite some time, he did not know how much was going to be put aside until the budget came down Monday afternoon.

"I entrusted the support of the MOE for this funding," he said.

Van Loan said the $12 million over two years is a huge increase and will benefit the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation, and municipalities in the protection of the Lake.

"I am quite pleased with that," he said.

The funding specifically earmarked for Lake Simcoe is a first. While federal politicians have previously said they cared about Lake Simcoe, the funding never flowed. Currently, annual funding for Lake Simcoe is only just over $1 million, mostly from municipalities and the Conservation Authority. The federal funding represents a 533% increase in the available funds for Lake Simcoe's environment.

"If the Province steps up and matches the funding we can do even more for Lake Simcoe," said Van Loan.

Van Loan credited the support of numerous citizens' organizations and groups within York-Simcoe in making this funding a reality.