Federal government invests in health of Great Lakes [Video]

The federal government is investing $18.4 million dollars into the region.

“We will be able to see significant things occur on this wonderful watershed,” said Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) executive director, Tim Byrne, who feels the investment to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem is generational.

“This is about helping Mother Nature,” said Windsor-Tecumseh MP, Irek Kusmierczyk. “It’s about balancing the environment and the economy, so this is vital for our community.”

The ERCA will receive close to $16 million. $1.6 million is earmarked for the University of Windsor, while Flowers Canada gets $890,000.

The local funding is part of a $76 million investment to support 50 projects linked to the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative.

“You look at the industrial footprint of our communities, both agriculture and manufacturing and that puts incredible stress on our freshwater, on our Great Lakes,” Kusmierczyk added.

Of those projects, 17 will be conducted …