The importance of the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes help make Ontario a great place to live. Whether you love to fish, swim, boat, camp, play on a sandy beach with your kids or walk along a shoreline trail, Ontario’s Great Lakes support an ecosystem that is unique in the world.

These beautiful lakes are an unparalleled treasure, holding one-fifth of all the surface fresh water on Earth.

Most Ontarians live within the watersheds of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. We all benefit from the Great Lakes – their resources provide us with drinking water and energy, food and recreational opportunities. The Lakes also provide the province with numerous economic advantages.

The Great Lakes regional economy is the world’s 3rd largest. Almost 50% of Canada’s manufacturing along with 83% of Ontario’s power generation and 95% of Ontario’s agricultural lands depend on the Great lakes-St. Lawrence River basin.

The Lakes support a rich array of plants, animals and ecosystems and are the foundation for Ontario’s strength and success.

The Great Lakes are under stress

The health of the Great Lakes is under threat from a number of factors – increased levels of harmful pollutants such as excess road salt and plastic pollution, urban growth, managing nutrients, increasing harmful and nuisance algae, hardened shorelines and invasive species. Over the last 15 years, changes in the Great Lakes have revealed disruptions to the food chain.

Climate change is also challenging the ability of the Great Lakes to be resilient to the impacts that can arise from severe weather and changes in water levels and in the thaw-and-freeze cycle.

We must protect them and, where we find they are in decline, we must restore them to good health so they remain drinkable, swimmable and fishable.

Given the importance of the Great Lakes to our economy, quality of life and environment, in 2015 Ontario established the Great Lakes Protection Act, which provides flexible tools to protect and restore the Great Lakes.

Strengthening Great Lakes protection

Protecting and restoring the Great Lakes is part of Ontario’s plan to protect our air, land and water.

One of the ways we protect the Great Lakes is through the Great Lakes Protection Act, which:

  • ensures we establish and maintain monitoring and reporting programs
  • commits to establishing at least one target to reduce algal blooms (established in 2018)
  • allows the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to establish targets to prevent the loss of wetlands
  • improves consultation and engagement requirements and requires consideration of traditional ecological knowledge
  • requires that we table comprehensive progress reports in the legislature every three years
  • requires that we review Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy every six years
  • creates more opportunities for Ontarians to become involved in the protection and restoration of the ecological health of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin
  • improves the capacity of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin so it can be resilient to the impacts of climate change

Funding for Great Lakes projects

Since 2018, Ontario has invested $66.5 million in 552 projects to safeguard the Great Lakes. During that time, 31 environmental clean-up actions have taken place across 17 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes.

OIn 2023, Ontario is investing $6 million in multi-year funding in 30 new projects that will help restore the health of the Great Lakes. This investment supports Ontario’s commitments in the new Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health — a five-year agreement that sets out specific actions that the federal and provincial governments will take, together with Great Lakes partners, to restore, protect and conserve the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes. It also supports implementation of Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy.

These projects focus on science and on-the-ground work to address critical issues facing the world’s largest surface freshwater lake system such as:

  • Adoption of agricultural best practices and green infrastructure
  • Public awareness and education on the important role of water
  • advancing climate change adaptation and resilience efforts
  • Contaminants in fish for consumption
  • Fish habitat, invasive species and delisting of Areas of Concern
  • Plastics
  • Road salt
  • Stormwater and groundwater management, and shoreline rehabilitation
  • Water quality and pollution

The projects are run by:

  • Indigenous communities and organizations
  • conservation authorities
  • environmental not-for-profits and for profits
  • universities and colleges
  • municipalities

The following table features 30 projects receiving multi-year funding to deliver on Ontario’s commitments in the new Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health. Additional projects will be announced soon.

30 projects receiving $6 million in multi-year funding

RecipientMunicipalityProject descriptionFunding $
Anishinabek NationGreat Lakes basin-wideThis project will strengthen the ability of Anishinabek Nation’s member First Nations communities to actively engage and participate in opportunities to inform, guide and implement Great Lakes collaborative work. It also provides opportunities for Anishinabek Nation to share information generated from community-led initiatives in the Great Lakes Basin.310,000
Bay Area Restoration CouncilHamilton Harbour / Hamilton CentreThis group of projects will further restore the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern:
  • deliver community outreach and education on the benefits of keeping rain where it falls with low impact development and green infrastructure
  • continue water quality monitoring to identify priority actions
  • develop a wetland restoration planting plan for Cootes Paradise and Grindstone Creek for implementation 
336,000
Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First NationPeninsula Harbour, Jackfish Bay, Lake Superior north shoreFor this project in the Lake Superior basin, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation will lead fish a consumption survey to provide important information for assessing fish consumption concerns in the Peninsula Harbour and Jackfish Bay Areas of Concern in Lake Superior.12,000
Boating Ontario AssociationCommunities across the Great Lakes basinThis project will undertake a survey of Boating Ontario Association members on their management of hazardous wastes and recyclable materials and deliver a campaign on the benefits of boating at a Clean Marine-rated facility.42,765
Bruce Peninsula Biosphere AssociationSoutheast shores of Lake Huron, Eastern Georgian Bay/Huron-Bruce, Lambton-Kent-MiddlesexThis group of projects engages a number of partners around the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay basin on activities to restore and protect 6 key tributaries. These projects will:
  • enhance water quality and aquatic habitats
  • restore streams and a wetland
  • increase biodiversity
  • remove plastic waste
  • engage local First Nation communities in priority setting for science and action to improve the ecosystem health of Georgian Bay
474,500
Caldwell First NationsThames River / Lake Erie areaThis project will support actions under the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach by delivering a tailored youth stewardship program for the Caldwell First Nation. This program will enhance awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and science-based understanding of the Thames River and Lake Erie.25,000
Chiefs of OntarioFirst Nation communities across the Great Lakes basin  This project will increase engagement of First Nations in Great Lakes discussions and implementation of the 2021 Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA) through annual meetings between First Nations and the COA Executive Committee Co-Chairs. It will also provide opportunities for First Nations to collaborate and contribute ideas to support Great Lakes policy and program development.110,440
Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First NationThames River / Lake Erie areaThis project will support the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach by delivering a youth stewardship program for the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. It will enhance awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and science-based understanding of the Thames River and Lake Erie.25,000
Chippewas of the Thames FNThames River / Lake Erie areaThis project will support the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach by delivering a youth stewardship program for the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation. The program will enhance awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and science-based understanding of the Thames River and Lake Erie.25,000
Fort William First NationThunder Bay /
Lake Superior north shore
For this project, Fort William First Nation will lead a fish consumption survey to provide important information for assessing fish consumption concerns in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern in Lake Superior.13,500
Governing Council of the University of TorontoToronto (Science and research across the Great Lakes basin)This group of projects will:
  • assess Great Lakes water quality (quantifying nutrients loadings, chlorides, microplastics discharges and tire compounds)
  • evaluate drinking water treatment processes
  • assess practices that reduce excess nutrients and nutrient runoff from agricultural lands to the Great Lakes
610,416
ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) - Local Governments for Sustainability (Management) IncMunicipalities and communities across the Great Lakes basinThis group of projects advance climate change adaptation and resilience efforts and will:
  • pilot a climate resource centre to provide climate support services.
  • enhance a drinking water vulnerability assessment tool
  • build beach resiliency at Burlington Beach and Sauble Beach with nature-based solutions
  • conduct community watershed and adaptation planning with Nokiwin First Nations.
1,077,080
Lower Trent Region Conservation AuthorityBay of Quinte; Northumberland—Peterborough South;
Hastings—Lennox and Addington
This project will implement a landowner stewardship program to help reduce excess nutrients from agricultural and urban sources to improve water quality and help restore the Bay of Quinte.65,000
McMaster UniversityHamilton (Science and research across the Great Lakes Basin)This project will improve the detection and identification of harmful algal bloom events in the Great Lakes and associated watershed sites. This will be done through the use of specific methods that measure potential toxin production and identify the types of cyanobacteria responsible for toxic blooms in Ontario.195,000
Métis Nation of OntarioGreat Lakes – basin wideThis project will support active and collaborative participation of Métis communities in the design, development and implementation of Great Lakes protection and restoration efforts, and in policy and decision-making processes. This initiative will support the delivery of commitments in the 2021 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes and Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy.360,000
Munsee-Delaware NationThames River / Lake Erie areaThis project will support actions under the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach by delivering a tailored youth stewardship program for the Delaware Nation to enhance awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and science-based understanding of the Thames River and Lake Erie.25,000
Niagara Coastal Community Collaborative (Niagara Coastal)Niagara region / Niagara Falls;
Niagara West;
Niagara Centre;
St. Catharines
This project will expand a web platform that engages coastal citizens, community groups and local organizations in collecting data to fill knowledge gaps for Great Lakes shorelines – to the Niagara River Area of Concern.76,805
Niagara Peninsula Conservation AuthorityNiagara River; Lyons Creek East / WellandThis group of projects will:
  • implement a sediment management project.
  • engage the community in decision making to restore fish and wildlife habitats.
  • provide students and teachers with educational opportunities at the Niagara River shoreline.
425,600
Oneida Nation of the ThamesThames River / Lake Erie areaThis project will support the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach by delivering a youth stewardship program for the Oneida Nation of the Thames to enhance awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and science-based understanding of the Thames River and Lake Erie.25,000
Raisin Region Conservation AuthorityCommunities along the St. Lawrence River/ Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
This project will develop and implement an agricultural land stewardship program and facilitate an outreach and education program to improve water quality within the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern.140,000
Pays Plat First NationJackfish Bay/ Lake Superior north shoreFor this project, Pays Plat First Nation will lead a fish consumption survey to provide important information for assessing fish consumption concerns in the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Lake Superior.12,000
Quinte Conservation AssociationBay of Quinte; Northumberland—Peterborough South;
Hastings—Lennox and Addington
These projects will focus on reducing nuisance algae and managing phosphorus in the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern as well as monitoring and maintaining the area's water quality, fish and wildlife habitat while identifying emerging threats such as invasive species and climate change.162,791
Red Rock Indian BandJackfish Bay—Lake Superior north shoreFor this project in the Lake Superior basin, Red Rock Indian Band will lead a fish consumption survey to provide important information for assessing fish consumption concerns in the Jackfish Bay Area of Concern in Lake Superior.12,000
Red Sky Métis Independent NationThunder Bay, Peninsula Harbour, Jackfish Bay – Lake Superior north shore
Thunder Bay / Kiwetinoong
In the Lake Superior basin, Red Sky Métis Independent Nation will lead fish a consumption survey to provide important information for assessing fish consumption concerns in the Thunder Bay, Peninsula Harbour and Jackfish Bay Areas of Concern in Lake Superior.15,975
Severn Sound Environmental AssociationSevern Sound / Simcoe NorthThis group of projects will:
  • monitor and characterize potential impacts from stormwater and wastewater in Severn Sound.
  • communicate findings from the last 20 years of environmental monitoring in the Severn Sound area after delisting of Severn Sound as an Area of Concern.
145,000
St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental SciencesCornwall, Bay of Quinte and communities along the St. Lawrence River / Bay of Quinte;
Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes
This group of projects will:
  • continue to monitor mercury in fish, sediment and industrial sites to ensure effectiveness of clean up actions in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern.
  • support the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to study the health of Lake Sturgeon and Eel.
  • support clean up actions and address local current and future threats to water quality and ecosystem health.
  • support the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte to lead a fish consumption survey to provide important information for assessing fish consumption concerns in the Bay of Quinte.
402,187
University of GuelphGuelph (Science and research across the Great Lakes basin)This group of projects will:
  • identify how groundwater and surface water interact and transport phosphorus in Norfolk Sand plain in the Great Lakes Basin.
  • conduct a survey of what is leftover from organic waste processing in facilities in Ontario (anaerobic digestion), looking specifically for types and amounts of microplastics.
365,200
University of WaterlooWaterloo (Science and research across the Great Lakes Basin)This group of projects will:
  • improve understanding of groundwater and surface water interaction and optimize field monitoring methods and data collection strategies to identify key data needs.
  • review resource recovery and nutrient re-use options for municipal sludges and biosolids that support a circular economy rather than landfilling
321,250
University of WindsorWindsor (Western Lake Ontario nutrient research and science) / Windsor West
Windsor—Tecumseh
This project will improve knowledge of the land-to-lake connection at well-established nutrient monitoring stations entering the western basin of Lake Ontario. The project will use advanced genetic methods to provide insight into dominant bacteria species entering the lake, and linkage to nutrient levels and sources.199,200
Walpole Island First NationsThames River / Lake Erie areaThis project will support the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi) Shared Waters Approach by delivering a youth stewardship program for the Chippewas of Kettle and Walpole Island First Nations. It will enhance awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and science-based understanding of the Thames River and Lake Erie.25,000

Great Lakes Local Action Fund

Our Great Lakes Local Action Fund is supporting community projects that protect and restore coastal, shoreline and nearshore areas of the Great Lakes.

The second round of the Great Lakes Local Action Fund invested nearly $1.8 million in 36 projects to protect and improve the health of the Great Lakes and their connecting rivers, which have social and/or economic benefits to local communities.

Learn more about the Great Lakes Local Action Fund

Setting clear targets

One clear way to strengthen protection of the Great Lakes is by setting targets. The Great Lakes Protection Act allows the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, in consultation with other Great Lakes ministers, communities and stakeholders, to set specific or general targets for local and lake-wide areas.

We have a goal to reduce phosphorus loadings to the western and central basins of Lake Erie by 40% by 2025 – a target set under Ontario's Great Lakes Protection Act to address algal blooms. The Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan serves as Ontario’s plan to achieve this target.

The Act will also provide the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry with authority to establish one or more targets for preventing the loss of wetlands.

The ability to set clear targets could help all partners work towards common restoration and protection outcomes. Setting targets will also help Ontario to manage the cumulative impacts of activities on the Great Lakes, including climate change, and respond to specific areas when needed.

Geographically-focused initiatives

The Act enables geographically-focused initiatives, or GFIs, as a tool for developing and implementing policies to address priority issues in a specific location.

Initiatives will be developed through a collaborative local process, and will build on existing work. Some of the activities associated with protecting the Great Lakes that could be addressed with GFIs could include:

  • protecting natural heritage or hydrologic features
  • coordinated efforts to improve beaches
  • efforts to reduce excessive algae

Based on local input, geographically-focused initiatives could be developed by a municipality, conservation authority or the province.

In addition, developing these GFIs would require engagement with First Nations and Métis communities within the area, municipalities, the scientific community, environmental organizations, farming organizations, conservation authorities, and industrial, recreational and tourism sectors.

Great Lakes Guardians' Council

The Great Lakes Guardians’ Council was established by the Great Lakes Protection Act as a forum where Great Lakes Ministers, partners and stakeholders can talk about the environmental, economic and social importance of the lakes. Learn more about the Great Lakes Guardians’ Council and  what was discussed during council meetings.

Strengthening reporting and monitoring

The Great Lakes Protection Act requires public progress reports on the Great Lakes every three years, with reports tabled in the Legislature. These reports would include results of monitoring programs, actions taken and a description of new and emerging issues. In addition, the act will also ensure that monitoring and reporting programs are established and maintained.

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