Canada is emphasizing the importance of freshwater stewardship as essential to the country’s environment, economy, and long-term sustainability. Local and partner-led initiatives play a key role in protecting and restoring these vital resources. To strengthen these efforts, the Government of Canada has launched multiple calls for applications for new funding opportunities, announced by Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency.
Several of these funding calls fall under Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives within the national Freshwater Action Plan. They focus on restoring and protecting major waterbodies of national importance, including the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, the Fraser River, the Wolastoq/Saint John River, and Lake Winnipeg. Additional calls are offered through the EcoAction program, which supports freshwater sustainability projects across the country.
The funded projects will centre on improving water quality, restoring aquatic habitats, engaging Indigenous communities, and enhancing local capacity for sustainable freshwater management. These initiatives are designed to empower community-based and partner-led action that strengthens freshwater ecosystems nationwide.
Applications will open in November and December 2025, with deadlines extending into December 2025 and January 2026. The announcement underscores Canada’s broader commitment to effective freshwater governance, led by the Canada Water Agency, which was established in 2024 to strengthen collaboration among federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners.
