President Obama created the Great Lakes Restoration Project in 2010, targeting between 300 and 400 million dollars a year towards cleaning the world’s largest supply of surface fresh water.
Congress approved more than 400 million dollars for the Lakes next year and roughly a billion dollars of the Biden administration’s recent infrastructure law is designated to clean up industrial sites.
But over the past five years Canada offered only about 33 million dollars for the effort.
Now Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is increasing that amount to more than 300 million in US dollars over the next 10 years.
Trudeau, who recently met with President Biden, notes the Great Lakes are a significant source of drinking water. They also provide vital income for many shoreline communities in both the US and Canada.
The lake system is beset by industrial pollution, invasive species, and the effects of climate change.
