We are taking advantage of World Water Day to support our ambitious climate change actions that keep our air and our fresh water clean. Already, the Government of Canada has committed to create a Canadian Water Agency to protect this natural resource, which provides us with clean drinking water, transportation, energy, and economic opportunities, as well as recreation. Parliamentary Secretary Terry Duguid is also attending the United Nations Water 2023 Conference in New York this week as Canada's representative to discuss the mid-term review of the goals of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced a $25 million investment in the International Institute for Sustainable Development's Experimental Lakes Area. This research centre facilitates experiments in the Experimental Lakes Area, located in northern Ontario, on stressors to aquatic ecosystems, including excess nutrients, acidification, contaminants of concern, and climate change. This centre contributes to freshwater management, including the protection and restoration of freshwater biodiversity, both in Canada, and abroad.
This five-year, $25 million investment in the Experimental Lakes Area will support new and ongoing freshwater science, enhance national and international scientific collaborations, and support projects to improve research capacity and knowledge exchange, both in Canada, and abroad.
This funding was first announced in the 2022 Federal Budget, which included broad efforts to better protect the natural environment and help reduce the financial and ecological costs associated with biodiversity loss and climate change. The mitigation and adaptation measures in the 2022 Budget build on the significant investments of more than $100 billion made for the environment and climate change since 2015.
Investments in climate change initiatives like this one are part of the Government of Canada's commitment to fight climate change, create good jobs, and build a strong, environmentally responsible economy for all.
