The MGEU will provide $20,000 over five years to establish a new graduate student scholarship fund that will support research on Lake Winnipeg, MGEU President Lois Wales announced yesterday.
“At our last convention, MGEU members decided to work together on saving Lake Winnipeg,” said Wales. “By supporting research on the lake, this contribution will help determine what needs to be done to make Lake Winnipeg healthy again.”
The new scholarships will support graduate students using the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium’s research platform, the M.V. Namao, and will be in place for the 2012 field research season. Details about eligibility criteria and the application process will be available in the coming months.
“This new scholarship fund will make it possible for more graduate students to choose Lake Winnipeg as the focus of their research,” said Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium Managing Director Dr. Al Kristofferson. “We welcome this exciting initiative to deepen our understanding of what is happening to Lake Winnipeg.”
Several Manitoba labour organizations have also joined in the effort by making a financial contribution in support of the Consortium’s important work, Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck announced yesterday. These include:
• Manitoba Federation of Labour ($500);
• Manitoba Government and General Employees Union ($2500, in addition to the scholarship fund commitment);
• United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 832 ($500);
• Canadian Union of Public Employees ($500); and
• Allied Hydro Council ($500).
“The working families we represent have told us they are concerned about the health of Manitoba’s lakes, rivers and water,” said Rebeck. “That’s why the Manitoba Federation of Labour and affiliated unions have decided to join the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium and to back up that support with financial contributions.”