Access to clean and safe water is essential to the health of Canadians and their environment. Over the last decade, Canadians have ranked water as Canada's most important resource. The Government of Canada is committed to finding the best ways to improve and protect water quality and to ensure our water is well-managed.

Today, we are announcing$3.9 million in funding for 53 community-based projects through the EcoAction Community Funding Program. These projects will protect and improve Canada's freshwater. These projects have measurable and positive impacts on the environment and will engage communities across the country. They are focused on:

• Improving water quality by reducing harming substance.
• Increasing climate resilience and improving freshwater management by developing and restoring natural infrastructure.

The following projects on PEI will be receiving funding.

• Recipient: Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (based in Emerald)
  • Funding: $99,981 federal contribution ($218,881 total project value)
  • Project title: Summerside Community Stormwater Strategy
  • Description: This Clean Water project will improve water quality through the diversion and reduction of harmful substances in freshwater throughout Summerside, Prince Edward Island. To do this, the recipient will develop a program to promote citizen awareness and encourage flood-proofing measures; develop demonstration projects, workshops, storm water harvesting pilot programs for the community and initiate collaborative projects (municipal) with city management and staff to development of on the ground demonstration projects for storm water mitigation practices. The project will engage ECCC priority groups: youth and small businesses. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s funding will be used for salaries and wages, travel, overhead, materials and supplies, communications and printing, production and distribution costs.

• Recipient: Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island (based in Charlottetown)
  • Funding: $69,519 federal contribution ($147,618 total project value)
  • Project title: Improving the Health of the Orwell River
  • Description: This Clean Water project will improve water quality through the improvement of freshwater management and increase climate resilience through action involving the development and/or restoration of natural infrastructure in Prince Edward Island. To do this, Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island will increase the numbers of appropriate native species in the area, improve the health of trees in the riparian area, create nesting habitat for fauna, store carbon, reduce siltation, and provide educational opportunities. The project will engage ECCC priority groups: Indigenous peoples, youth, and small businesses. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s funding will be used for salaries and wages, materials and supplies, and other expenditures.

• Recipient: Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group (based in Stratford)
  • Funding: $48,100 federal contribution ($176,360 total project value)
  • Project title: Eliminating Sediment Contamination of Freshwater in Two Prince Edward Island Municipalities
  • Description: This Clean Water project will improve water quality through the diversion and reduction of harmful substances in freshwater throughout Stratford and Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group will educate 300 individuals from the building sector on how and why to properly design and implement sediment controls; reduce the number and severity of instances where soil is eroded from building sites and washed into freshwater systems; develop a set of practical, informative guidelines to be used within municipalities to reduce soil runoff; and establish a process for monitoring runoff, working with developers, and collaborating with provincial officials that can be used by other PEI municipalities. The project will engage ECCC priority group: small businesses. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s funding will be used for salaries and wages, travel, management and professional services, communications and printing, production and distribution costs.

• Recipient: Winter River - Tracadie Bay Watershed Association Inc. (based in Dunstaffnage)
  • Funding: $72,964 federal contribution ($252,242 total project value)
  • Project title: Natural Infrastructure Restoration and Creation in Winter River – Tracadie Bay Watershed
  • Description: This Clean Water project will improve water quality through the diversion and reduction of harmful substances in freshwater in Winter River – Tracadie Bay, Prince Edward Island. To do this, the recipient will restore adequate movement of sediment and fish through stream channels by removing excessive blockages; stabilize shorelines and concentrated overland water flow paths and enhance watercourses, wetlands, and riparian buffers by planting native vegetation, and implementing other complementary activities; implement better freshwater management practices at demonstration sites; and enable staff to practice new techniques and source suitable materials; share knowledge of implementing and maintaining the sites with youth, landowners, members of the public. The project will engage ECCC priority groups: youth and small businesses. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s funding will be used for salaries and wages, travel, overhead, materials and supplies, communications and printing, production and distribution costs.