Ontario Supporting Local Action to Restore the St. Lawrence River
September 18, 2025
Province investing $7.3 million in 63 projects to improve the health of the Great Lakes
September 18, 2025
CORNWALL — The Ontario government is investing $435,829 in a project to restore environmentally degraded areas of the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall and Akwesasne through the Great Lakes Program. This is one of 63 multi-year projects across the province collectively receiving $7.3 million to protect the Great Lakes and their connecting waters.
“Home to 20 per cent of the world’s surface fresh water, the Great Lakes also support one of the largest economies — providing drinking water to our communities and driving tourism and growth across the province,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “We are making strategic investments with partners like the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences in initiatives that will conserve this vital resource for future generations.”
With funding from the Great Lakes Program, the River Institute is carrying out multiple actions that will improve the ecological health of the St. Lawrence River, through monitoring and research activities, as well as public education.
Some of these actions include:
- evaluating fish and wildlife consumption restrictions over time to track improvements and allow the community to make informed decisions about what they eat
- conducting water monitoring and sampling in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to evaluate the effects of harmful algae on local water quality and support community resilience
- building a digital map with the latest environmental data to track pollution levels across various zones of the river
- educating community members on the impacts of climate change on local water quality and ecosystem health.
Partnering with community-based organizations is one of the ways the Ontario government is protecting the ecological health and sustainability of the Great Lakes Basin – an unparalleled natural resource vital to Ontario’s thriving tourism and agriculture industries and to supporting healthy communities.
Quick Facts
- Of the $7.3 million investment, $5.5 million is provided through the 2024/25 Great Lakes Program and nearly $1.8 million is provided through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.
- Almost 83 per cent of Ontario’s power generation and 95 per cent of Ontario’s agricultural lands depend on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin.
- Working with the Great Lakes community partners, our government is making progress on actions included in Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy, such as:
- restoring 14 Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes
Quotes
“The St. Lawrence River is the lifeforce of our community, and it is imperative that we take care of it. Through this investment, our government is ensuring that the St. Lawrence River is protected so future generations across Cornwall and Akwesasne can continue to have access to clean drinking water and make memories along the river.” – Nolan Quinn, MPP, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.
“The St. Lawrence River plays an important role in the daily lives of our communities. Historically, we have harnessed these waters for trade, for industrial applications, for the generation of electricity, for sports and leisure activities, and most importantly, for our drinking water. We appreciate this investment by the Ontario government to protect the St. Lawrence today, and for future generations.” – Justin Towndale, Mayor, Cornwall
“These collaborative environmental research and community engagement projects will not only advance the remediation and restoration of the St. Lawrence Area of Concern (Cornwall/Akwesasne) but also help build resilience along the Upper St. Lawrence River in face of future challenges. Funding from the Government of Ontario ‘s Great Lakes Program is instrumental in supporting local organizations to build partnerships and lead initiatives to restore and protect the health of these critical waterways.” – Jeff Ridal, Executive Director, St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences
Additional Resources
Find out how the government is protecting the Great LakesRead about the Great Lakes Local Action Fund
Media Contact
Adrian Bugelli
Office of MPP Nolan Quinn
613-933-6513
Nolan.Quinn@pc.ola.org