After the 1997 "flood of the century," concerns about the impact of large-scale flooding on the health of lake Winnipeg were a catalyst for the establishment of the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium.
The Consortium, best known for operating the research ship M.V. Namao, coordinates and promotes independent scientific research on Lake Winnipeg. The Consortium's work helps determine what needs to be done to restore the health of Lake Winnipeg.
With Manitoba once again experiencing flooding larger in scope than we have ever seen before, the importance of the Consortium's research has once again been underscored.
Yesterday, I had the honour of participating in an announcement of new support for the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium. Manitoba's labour unions have decided to support the Consortium because the working families we represent have told us they are concerned about water quality issues in general, and the health of Lake Winnipeg in particular.
The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union is contributing $20,000 over 5 years to a new scholarship fund that will support graduate student research on the Lake.
The MFL and other unions are also making contributions to the scholarship fund and joining the membership of the Consortium.
We hope others in our community will join the effort to save Lake Winnipeg and support the important work of the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium.
