The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change:

Speaker, I am pleased today to highlight the success of the Come Home Year Community Cleanup Project, administered by the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board.

The Come Home Year Community Cleanup Project is a new funding initiative to support the cleanup of litter or improperly disposed bulk items in areas such as roadsides, trails, beaches, parks, and outdoor recreational spaces. Funding was provided to municipalities, local service districts, Indigenous community governments and organizations and non-profit/community groups.

This program was so popular when it was launched that additional funding was committed to accommodate the influx of applications. Overall, the MMSB approved 256 projects and a total of $520,000 was awarded in funding.

One community is using funding to cleanup a popular walking and fishing area which has been littered with large debris like washing machines and water tanks. Their goal is to make the area beautiful again and to preserve the river habitat.

Speaker, these projects will have a positive impact in protecting our environment and supporting people in our communities as we look towards welcoming home family and friends to celebrate Come Home 2022.

Thank you.