Great Lakes Sustainability Fund

In the late 1980s, the International Joint Commission designated 43 Areas of Concern, or “pollution hot spots,” within the Great Lakes Basin, based on significant environmental concerns in these areas.  Since then, of the 17 Canadian areas, two areas have been fully restored and removed from that list, and one area is being monitored for recovery, because all cleanup actions in the area have been completed.

The Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF) was created to accelerate the work being done to restore the environmental quality of Canada's remaining 14 Areas of Concern.

Funding is provided to initiatives that meet specific criteria and that serve to restore the environment.  Such projects include fish and wildlife habitat restoration, contaminated sediment remediation, landowner stewardship, and control of pollution from municipal wastewaters and rural runoff.

Restoring Areas of Concern improves water quality, fish and wildlife habitat and population health.  The Fund provides technical and financial support to projects that will reduce bacterial contamination of public beaches, an issue that leads to frequent beach closings.  Environmental improvements lead to local economic competitiveness through the development of innovative technologies, and increased recreation, tourism and development opportunities in Area of Concern communities.

The Fund is administered by Environment Canada in consultation with eight Government of Canada departments: Environment Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Heritage, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada and Transport Canada.

DELISTED AREAS OF CONCERN:

SevernSound
CollingwoodHarbour

AREA IN RECOVERY:

Spanish Harbour

 CANADIAN AREAS OF CONCERN:

Thunder Bay
NipigonBay
JackfishBay
PeninsulaHarbour
WheatleyHarbour
HamiltonHarbour
Toronto and Region
Port Hope Harbour
Bay of Quinte

BINATIONAL AREAS OF CONCERN

St. Lawrence River
Niagara River
St. Marys River
St. Clair River
Detroit River

For further information on the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, visit sustainabilityfund.gc.ca.