Ontario Supports Environmental Action in Burlington to Continue Protecting and Restoring the Great Lakes

BURLINGTON — The Ontario government is investing $49,175 in the Royal Botanical Gardens Sensitive Habitats Project through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund that will help build healthier communities while protecting and improving the health of the Great Lakes and their connecting waters.

This project will contribute to the health and sustainability of Lake Ontario through volunteer assisted restoration of a portion of Royal Botanical Gardens environmental protection lands. The primary focus of this work will be on removing several dominating invasive plant species along a large area of the lower Grindstone Creek tributary, shoreline restoration, and engaging communities in waterfront cleanups ties to litter from the watershed.

“The work carried out by the Royal Botanical Gardens protecting and restoring the water habitats in and around Lake Ontario is extremely important and protects one of Burlington’s greatest assets,” said Natalie Pierre, MPP for Burlington. “This funding supports environmental sustainability and our partners in their recovery work to help preserve the Royal Botanical Gardens habitat for generations to come.”

“Through this investment, we’re supporting innovative projects led by Ontario municipalities, community-based organizations, conservation authorities, small businesses and Indigenous communities that are protecting and restoring the Great Lakes and their connecting waters,” said David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Project grants from the Great Lakes Local Action Fund are helping communities and organizations promote environmental stewardship and take action in their own backyards.”

This project is one of 38 community-based projects to receive $1.9 million in funding from the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.

QUICK FACTS

• Since 2021, the province has invested $3.8 million through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund to support 82 projects in communities across Ontario.
• In its first year, the Great Lakes Local Action Fund supported restoration projects that engaged over 7,000 volunteers to help plant over 44,000 trees and 15,000 shrubs to support diverse and resilient shoreline habitats. These projects helped clean up more than 26,000 lbs of litter and restore and protect over 860 acres of vital greenspace and wetlands.
• 20 per cent of the world’s fresh surface water is found in the Great Lakes, making it the largest lake system in the world.
• Ontario’s Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River shoreline is the longest freshwater coastline in the world measuring 10,000 kilometres.
• Ontario invests approximately $14 million per year in actions to protect and restore the Great Lakes, including projects that support commitments in the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health and Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Learn how Ontario is protecting the Great Lakes
• Learn more about the Great Lakes Local Action Fund

MEDIA CONTACT
Caroline Raskin | Executive Assistant
Office of Natalie Pierre
Member of Provincial Parliament
Burlington
Email.caroline@nataliepierrempp.ca
Tel.905-639-7924 Direct. 289-3094049 Fax. 905-639-3284