The federal government is joining its provincial partners, as they provide financial support for the Experimental Lakes Area.

Kenora MP Bob Nault announced the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans would be contributing $1.7 million over the next two years towards the operations of the research facility.

"In a global context, the work done at this one-of-a-kind research facility provides insight on how contaminants, climate change and other factors affect our freshwater ecosystems. The science allows for improved decision-making so that we can better protect our freshwater resources for future generations," he said.

Manitoba and Ontario are partners in the ELA program with the federal government. Premier Brian Pallister was in Kenora for Wednesday's announcement, where the province announced $6 million in funding over six years.

"We have an obligation to make sure that our water is managed well and research is a real part of improving the circumstances for the next generation," said Pallister. "For us in Manitoba, like northwestern Ontario, we have a very close relationship with water and we know that as part of a sustainable environmental approach that makes sense, we have to do this kind of investigative work."

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne joined the MP in Kenora for the announcement, as the province contributed an additional $2 million over the next two years for the ELA.

"The scientific research that is done at the Experimental Lakes Area is critical," Wynne said at the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre. "I'm just thrilled that our government has been part of keeping ELA going and now we have a federal partner who is going to work with us."

The ELA is a group of 58 lakes around 75 kilometres northeast of Kenora, where research is done on whole bodies of water rather than in a lab.