Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF)

Call for Project Proposals to the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund for 2009-2010 (Submission Deadline: December 12, 2008).

If you are aiming to clean up and restore Ontario's designated pollution "hotspots" or areas of concern in the Great Lakes Basin, you may be eligible for technical and financial support (up to 1/3 of the total cost).

Eligibility Criteria

Funding Criteria

The following criteria are used in the assessment of project proposals:

• demonstrated need for federal participation through mandate, existing federal policy or declared federal interest;
• completion of federal actions to advance the recovery and delisting of areas of concern;
• measurable environmental benefits derived from the project;
• innovative and cost-saving control technologies and rehabilitation methods;
• technical merit and chances of success;
• leveraged funding and collaboration potential - the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF) contributes up to 1/3 of the total project cost;
• opportunities for technology transfer to other areas of concern and the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Eligible Activities

Projects that implement remedial actions to complete the clean up and restoration in three key priority areas:

• fish and wildlife habitat rehabilitation and stewardship;
• contaminated sediment assessment and remediation; and
• innovative approaches to improve municipal wastewater effluent quality.

Deadline

2008-12-12

Summary

The Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF) was announced in 2000 as a component of the Great Lakes Program. GLSF and the Great Lakes Program have been renewed for another five-year period which runs until March 31, 2010.

Application to the Fund

Before April 1 start of the fiscal year, a call letter for proposals for funding support from the GLSF is distributed to collaborating agencies such as other federal departments, provincial ministries, municipalities, conservation authorities, local Remedial Action Plan (RAP) implementation committees, and project managers. More guidance is provided through an exercise whereby federal teams and local RAP implementation teams in areas of concern work together to ensure that proposals submitted are consistent with RAP recommendations.

Once the proposals are received by the GLSF, they are reviewed and assessed in relation to:

• eligibility for funding;
• extent to which they reflect program priorities;
• technical merit and feasibility;
• cost-effectiveness; and
• financial and administrative management.

During the course of the review, there are ongoing discussions and negotiations with proponents with respect to deliverables, budget, project schedule, permits, partnerships and other aspects. The project is also reviewed for requirements under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). Successful applicants are notified with approval letters and agreements that specify the financial funding support, deliverables, and conditions of approval.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

National Contact(s):
Susan Humphrey
Manager
Great Lakes Areas of Concern Section
Environment Canada
4905 Dufferin Street
Downsview, Ontario  M3H 5T4
Telephone: 416-739-5882
Fax: 416-739-4404
E-mail: susan.humphrey@ec.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html