‘Lake Simcoe protection is not optional. Now is the time to restore and expand funding, not claw it back,’ says coalition official
NEWS RELEASE
RESCUE LAKE SIMCOE COALITION
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The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition has reached out to Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, urging the federal government to avoid any cuts to the Freshwater Action Fund. Instead, they are asking for an increase in funding for Lake Simcoe ahead of the 2026 budget. The letter, which was shared with all MPs representing Lake Simcoe’s watershed, comes after a report from revealed leaked internal messages indicating that a 15 percent budget cut could hinder restoration efforts on water bodies across Canada. “Lake Simcoe protection is not optional,” said Jonathan Scott, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. “Ottawa already fell short of its promise of $40 million over four years. Now is the time to restore and expand funding, not claw it back.” Lake Simcoe, Ontario’s largest inland lake outside the Great Lakes, supports over half a million residents and faces increasing challenges from rapid urban development, climate change, phosphorus pollution, and invasive species. Advocates warn that decreased federal investment would lead to more algal blooms, increased beach closures, and higher costs for local communities. The coalition is urging the federal government to honor the original $40-million commitment while ensuring long-term stable funding and confirming that Lake Simcoe remains a national freshwater priority. ************************
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RESCUE LAKE SIMCOE COALITION
************************
The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition has reached out to Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, urging the federal government to avoid any cuts to the Freshwater Action Fund. Instead, they are asking for an increase in funding for Lake Simcoe ahead of the 2026 budget. The letter, which was shared with all MPs representing Lake Simcoe’s watershed, comes after a report from revealed leaked internal messages indicating that a 15 percent budget cut could hinder restoration efforts on water bodies across Canada. “Lake Simcoe protection is not optional,” said Jonathan Scott, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. “Ottawa already fell short of its promise of $40 million over four years. Now is the time to restore and expand funding, not claw it back.” Lake Simcoe, Ontario’s largest inland lake outside the Great Lakes, supports over half a million residents and faces increasing challenges from rapid urban development, climate change, phosphorus pollution, and invasive species. Advocates warn that decreased federal investment would lead to more algal blooms, increased beach closures, and higher costs for local communities. The coalition is urging the federal government to honor the original $40-million commitment while ensuring long-term stable funding and confirming that Lake Simcoe remains a national freshwater priority. ************************
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