Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford has made two different funding announcements at the IISD Experimental Lakes Area west of Vermilion Bay.
$30,000 is coming from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to design and construct a water science education and training centre.
Also announced was a $2 million investment into the facility from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to continue its operations.
Rickford says the funding for the water science education and training centre was a long time coming since that was work he was continuing from when he was a federal MP.
He also says the facility would help bring in groups and students who would be interested in what research happens at the lakes.
As for the $2 million dollar investment, Rickford says it returns over 5 times in what comes into the area for researchers interested in using the facilities for their research.
ELA Executive Director Matt McCandless is excited by the announcement and he believes that it shows that their research is very important when it comes to fresh-water environments and wildlife.
McCandless says the $30,000 investment helps update their oldest building at the facility and also makes it more accessible for invited groups to check out.
Some of the work the facility includes is studying oil spills on fresh water lakes and what to do to clean it more efficiently, studying the effects on pharmaceuticals that have passed through human bodies and continuing their studies on harmful algae.
He also says they are continually studying the effects of climate change at their facilities as well.
IISD Experimental Lakes Area@IISD_ELAWe’re deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario for their continued support of IISD Experimental Lakes Area.
Freshwater research matters – to Ontario, to Canada and the world. Thank you.
Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2QeLcxj
