This week, it was a pleasure for me to be at The Forks to announce $1.18 million in federal funding to support 15 new projects under the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program. 

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Program will take action to reduce nutrients, like phosphorus, from entering the lake, enhance collaboration and support the engagement of Indigenous peoples on freshwater issues. 

Lake Winnipeg is the world's eleventh largest freshwater lake and second-largest watershed in Canada. Its basin covers close to one million square kilometers and extends over parts of four provinces and four states. Economically, Lake Winnipeg supports the second largest commercial inland fishery in North America. It's estimated to return more than $15 million a year and 80% of the fishers are First Nations or Metis. 

Funding for the projects announced today comes from the Government of Canada's $25.7 million investment in the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program, part of Budget 2017's $70.5 million investment in freshwater protection. 

These efforts are part of a broader Government of Canada effort to advance work on freshwater management in Canada. Water is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, municipal and Indigenous governments, and collaboration is key to restoring and protecting Lake Winnipeg's water quality and preserving the ecological health of this vital resource. Our government has made important strides working together to understand ongoing and emerging threats to Lake Winnipeg's water quality and ecosystem health, and we will continue to work on properly managing Canada's freshwater resources.