Advocacy success! Renewed federal funding for Lake Winnipeg
This spring’s Budget 2023 commitment of $650 million over 10 years for a national Freshwater Action Plan is significant – but it’s just the beginning of a sustained effort to protect Lake Winnipeg.
Last year, LWF members successfully called for renewed federal funding. The March 2023 budget announcement shows that our collective advocacy is making a difference. Thank you to everyone whose efforts made this success possible!
Now, we’re thanking Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault for this new funding commitment. We’re also reminding him of the importance of evidence-based decision-making, to ensure promised federal investment is used to generate measurable results and long-term impact.
how you can help
Join us in advocating for targeted funding for evidence-based phosphorus reduction with clear goals and accountability measures, as well as support for Indigenous peoples and the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in water governance.
We’ve created a postcard that can be filled in and mailed – no postage required – to Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, thanking him for renewing federal funding, and reminding him of the importance of evidence-based decision-making.
This postcard can be found in each printed copy of our Spring & Summer 2023 newsletter, and extra postcards are also available for free through the LWF office. If you would like postcards to distribute to your networks, please contact us!
Prefer to send your own letter or email? The text of the postcard is below.
“Dear Minister Guilbeault,
Thank you for renewing federal funding for freshwater protection in Budget 2023. I am happy to see Lake Winnipeg included in the new 10-year, $650-million Freshwater Action Plan.
This funding announcement is incredibly significant – but it’s just the beginning of a sustained effort to protect Lake Winnipeg. Equally as important as the total dollar amount is the long-term impact this funding will generate.
I urge you to ensure that funding for Lake Winnipeg is directed to evidence-based phosphorus reduction that achieves measurable results. Support must also be provided to Indigenous knowledge carriers to enable their full participation in water governance.
Sincerely,
Your name”
Letters can be mailed to The Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ont., Canada, K1A, 0A6
Emails can be sent to Environment and Climate Change Canada Minister Steven Guilbeault
As citizens working together, we can – and are – influencing public policy. Thank you for participating in this important advocacy work.