FRANCAIS

September 21, 2001

GIMLI, Manitoba – Research on Lake Winnipeg will soon be done from the decks of the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Namao thanks to $326,000 in funding from the Canada/Manitoba Economic Development Partnership Agreement (EDPA).

Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) on behalf of Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)(Francophonie), and Jean Friesen, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs for Manitoba, were at the CCGS Namao in Gimli harbour today to make the announcement.

The funding will cover repairs and capital improvements such as engine rebuilding necessary for the ship to regain its seaworthiness certificate. The Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium, an independent partnership of 23 member agencies formed in 1998, will then be able to use the vessel as a research platform, coordinating studies by consortium members and allowing the most efficient use of research dollars.

"The work of the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium will help to preserve existing economic activities and provide benefits for future economic development by monitoring the health of the lake itself," said Dr. Pagtakhan. "The outfitting of the Namao through this project presents a unique research opportunity."

"Lake Winnipeg plays a significant role in the economy of Manitoba, producing annual revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars through tourism, recreation, fisheries and hydro exports," said Friesen. "We need to protect this resource and to do so we need sound research and an understanding of the effects of human activities and how to mitigate them."

The consortium’s goals are to protect and sustain the Lake Winnipeg ecosystem, exchange information, and encourage educational opportunities while facilitating multidisciplinary scientific research. "Lake Winnipeg is the 10^th largest freshwater lake in the world, it has a vast drainage basin but until now research on it has been limited," said Al Kristofferson, Coordinator of the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium. "This ship will provide an excellent platform from which to conduct research, allowing all member agencies to work together and share information."

By March 2002, the Canada/Manitoba Economic Development Partnership Agreement will have directed $40 million into strategic projects that will expand the international competitiveness of Manitoba’s key growth sectors, commercialize new technologies, assist small and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs and enhance the long-term economic self-sustainability of rural and urban communities.

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