Canada's fresh water is threatened by human activity, invasive species and climate change. Clean fresh water is essential to the economy, the environment and the well-being of Canadians. Protecting fresh water is crucial.
Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency, announced over $5.5 million in funding to support 65 new projects. These projects will be carried out under the EcoAction Community Funding Program and the Community Interaction Program.
The EcoAction program, managed by the Canada Water Agency, funds community projects across the country to improve water quality and protect freshwater resources. The Community Interaction Program, under the St. Lawrence Action Plan (2011-2026), is co-managed by the Canada Water Agency and the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec. It supports local projects to protect and enhance the St. Lawrence River ecosystem.
The projects are expected to generate tangible environmental benefits while increasing knowledge, awareness and engagement in communities across Canada.
The recipients of the EcoAction program in 2024-2025 include the following:
- The Conseil régional de l'environnement - région de la Capitale-Nationale: $100,000 for the "École Éponge" (Sponge School) project aimed at improving water quality in three rivers located near Quebec City through rainwater collection, sediment retention and tree planting, involving students from three schools.
- The Organisme de bassins versants Charlevoix-Montmorency: $61,199 for the "Amélioration de la qualité de l'eau des lacs" (improving water quality of the lakes) project, which reduces sediment and contaminant runoff to improve water quality in seven lakes in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, Quebec.
- The Société de gestion environnementale de Dolbeau-Mistassini: $95,140 for the "Restauration du parc Centre-Ville de Dolbeau-Mistassini" (restoration of Parc Centre-Ville in Dolbeau-Mistassini) project, which includes cleanup, management of runoff water and replanting to protect aquatic and wetland ecosystems.
The recipients of the Community Interaction Program in 2024-2025 are as follows:
- The Fédération de l'Union des producteurs agricoles de la Montérégie: $200,000 to restore and enlarge the agricultural riparian buffer strips, which reduces erosion and nonpoint-source pollution, and helps improve water quality in the tributaries of the St. Lawrence River in Montérégie.
- The Société Mamuk de Nutashkuan: $100,000 to educate Innu youth about responsible fishing and hunting eating practices.
- Nature-Action Québec: $324,349 to carry out two projects, involving the restoration of turtle habitats on Fryer Island to better protect their environment and the improvement of biodiversity along the Mascouche River thanks to extended riparian buffer strips.
The new Canada Water Agency is the federal focal point for freshwater management, working in partnership with Indigenous peoples, provinces, territories and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on fresh water. It delivers key elements of the Freshwater Action Plan.
The Call for Applications period for Stream 1 of the EcoAction funding program, Community-led freshwater action across Canada, is now open. Applications are accepted until March 25th, 2025. The application submission period for Stream 2, Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada, will be announced soon.
