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NEW funding opportunities: Canada Water Agency invites applications for actions aimed at freshwater protection and sustainability

Press Release

From: Canada Water Agency

March 7, 2025

Freshwater protection and sustainability start with empowering local initiatives focused on taking action. Investing in partner-led projects for environmental protection, restoration, and conservation bolsters Canada’s clean-growth economy and ensures sustainable freshwater resources for future generations.

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced the launch of a call for applications period for three funding initiatives:

  1. EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada
  2. The Mackenzie River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative
  3. The Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

These are all new initiatives advanced through the Canada Water Agency.

Funding is open to a wide range of eligible applicants, including Indigenous governments and communities, local governments, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, conservation groups, and small businesses, to drive meaningful change for Canada’s freshwater ecosystems.

Projects will protect or improve water quality, drive innovation, support community-based monitoring, or incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into critical decisions and actions, ensuring a sustainable future.

Important work on freshwater stewardship is already under way through Indigenous leadership and participation in both the Fraser River and Mackenzie River basins. Projects that further enable Indigenous-led efforts and collaborative opportunities with Indigenous partners to protect ecosystem health in these river basins are encouraged to apply.

The submission deadlines are:

  1. April 10, 2025, for EcoAction Stream 2 and for the Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative;
  2. May 8, 2025, for the Mackenzie River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative.

Applicants are also reminded that the call period for EcoAction Stream 1: Community-led freshwater action across Canada is ongoing and closes March 25, 2025.

Quotes

“Partner-led projects are crucial in safeguarding one of our most precious resources—fresh water— for future generations. I encourage all eligible groups to apply and contribute innovative solutions for the protection of the Mackenzie and Fraser Rivers. We are excited to support projects that will have a positive impact on both our fresh water resources and the communities that benefit from them.”
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

  • The Mackenzie River is the largest river basin in Canada, covering nearly 1.8 million km2, or 18% of the landmass of Canada.
  • The Fraser River is the fourth largest river in Canada by volume and has a drainage basin of 220,000 km2.
  • The Government of Canada is investing $650 million over 10 years in the Freshwater Action Plan to strengthen the protection and restoration of nationally significant bodies of fresh water.
  • The Canada Water Agency leads the delivery of Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives in eight waterbodies of national significance across Canada: the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, the St. Lawrence River, the Wolastoq/Saint John River, the Fraser River, the Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe.
  • EcoAction projects will support the goals of the Canada Water Agency by enabling freshwater sustainability and actions across Canada.

Associated links

Contacts

Hermine Landry
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
873-455-3714
Hermine.Landry@ec.gc.ca

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
media@ec.gc.ca

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