advocacy

The 2023 federal budget includes dedicated multi-year funding for Canada’s freshwater lakes and rivers as part of a new Freshwater Action Plan – though the total investment for Lake Winnipeg is still not clear.

Released on March 28, Budget 2023 provides $650 million over 10 years for freshwater protection, with funding to support monitoring, assessment and restoration work across eight Canadian watersheds – including Lake Winnipeg’s.

A 10-year commitment is positive news, as multi-year funding will enable the development of a robust, evidence-based program to generate tangible results for...

In the lead-up to Winnipeg’s Oct. 26 election, we are urging all candidates to commit to achieving phosphorus compliance at the city’s North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC). We expect Winnipeg’s next mayor and council to fulfill the city’s responsibility to Lake Winnipeg.

Together with the Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective (LWIC), we reached out directly to all mayoral candidates with an offer to discuss evidence, impacts and solutions to achieve phosphorus compliance at NEWPCC. Since early August, we’ve met with eight mayoral candidates: Chris Clacio, Scott Gillingham, Kevin...

On Aug. 16, three levels of government announced a total of $552 million in funding for the Phase 2 Biosolids Facilities Project at Winnipeg’s North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC).

The new biosolids facility at the north end sewage treatment plant is the city’s No. 1 infrastructure priority according to the 2020 Infrastructure Plan – replacing end-of-life infrastructure and enabling continued population growth.

Earlier this summer, after years of advocacy from LWF members, city officials updated the design for the biosolids facility, increasing digester capacity in order to...

On July 21, city council passed two important motions that put us on the path towards accelerated phosphorus compliance at Winnipeg’s largest sewage treatment plant.

Improved interim solution gets approval

Winnipeg’s city council approved funding for an updated plan for interim phosphorus removal at the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC). This plan improves on the city’s initial design in order to maximize phosphorus removal while reducing the amount of sludge produced as a by-product.

LWF strongly supports this plan since it will lead to tangible, measurable phosphorus...