Great Lakes Water Protection Program

About this grant

Since 1996, the Sierra Legal Defence Fund Society has been working to protect the water quality of the Great Lakes. Its main goal was to use its legal and scientific expertise to address pollution problems affecting the Great Lakes; encourage the government to take its enforcement responsibilities seriously; and raise public awareness about Great Lakes pollution problems.Multiyear funding will enable the fund to focus on policy reform, the implementation of existing water quality programs, and legal and scientific research. Specific activities will include advising federal and provincial officials on new water quality policy proposals; pursuing strategic opportunities to establish precedents that are protective of water quality; providing scientific and other technical services to local environmental organizations; issuing a new report on the level of compliance with Ontario’s water pollution rules; and researching emerging opportunities to develop new water quality policy as well as ways to implement existing water quality rules.Recent accomplishments included obtaining improved compliance with the Federal Fisheries Act; participating in the investigation of the Walkerton drinking water problem; contributing to important policy reforms by publishing reports on the rates of pollution permit compliance; and providing input on new provincial policy addressing nutrient pollution.