Federal Government Announces $936,000 Funding for Hamilton Harbour Initiatives

The federal government issued a public statement this morning announcing new funding grants being issued by the Canada Water Agency.

There are seven grants being issued in the Hamilton area.

Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation
Project: Community engagement on restoration of Toronto and Region, Hamilton, and Niagara River Areas of Concern 
Funding Amount: $170,000 over 2 years 
Project Description: This project will support Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation’s involvement in decision-making and assessment for the Toronto and Region, Hamilton Harbour and Niagara River Areas of Concern. Activities will focus on community engagement, beneficial use assessments, and incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge to help restore local water quality and ecosystem health.

Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Project: Community engagement and restoration for the Toronto, Hamilton, and Niagara River Areas of Concern 
Funding Amount: $80,000 over 2 years 
Project Description: This project will support the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation’s involvement in decision-making and assessment for the Toronto and Region, Hamilton Harbour, and Niagara River Areas of Concern. Activities will improve local fish habitat and ecosystem function in Cootes Paradise Marsh and will include community engagement, beneficial use assessments, and incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge to help restore local water quality and ecosystem health.

City of Hamilton
Project: City of Hamilton – Harmful Algal Bloom Strategy 
Funding Amount: $100,000 over 1 year 
Project Description: This project will develop the City of Hamilton’s Harmful Algal Bloom Strategy to address the aesthetic impacts of recurring harmful algal blooms in priority areas of Hamilton Harbour.

City of Hamilton
Project: Implementation of the City of Hamilton Watershed Action Plan – Priority Projects in Support of the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern 
Funding Amount: $90,000 over 1 year 
Project Description: This project will reduce nutrient and sediment inputs to improve water quality and restore nearshore fish and wildlife habitat in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. Activities include shoreline restoration and naturalization in priority areas and expanding the City’s Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program.

Royal Botanical Gardens
Project: Wetland Rehabilitation at Royal Botanical Gardens in Support of the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern 2026-2027 
Funding Amount: $250,000 over 1 year 
Project Description: This project will restore and protect wetland habitat in Cootes Paradise and Grindstone marshes within Hamilton Harbour. Activities include operating a fishway barrier to improve water clarity, implementing shoreline and channel restoration, and reintroducing southern wild rice in collaboration with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

Bay Area Restoration Council of Hamilton and Halton, Inc.
Project: Beneficial Use Impairment Assessment and Engagement to Support Restoration of the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern 
Funding Amount: $70,000 over 1 year 
Project Description: This project will assess aesthetic conditions and deliver public outreach programs in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. Activities include conducting monthly aesthetic monitoring, developing products to track remedial actions, and coordinating public outreach and education programs.

Halton Region Conservation Authority
Project: Remedial Action Plan Coordination for the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern (2026-2029) 
Funding Amount: $176,000 over 3 years 
Project Description: This project will coordinate priority restoration projects and partner engagement in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern. Activities include developing a five-year Remedial Action Plan, supporting the assessment of beneficial uses, and tracking local progress towards restoration.

---

Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: September 9, 2026
Last updated: September 9, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman

Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version