The federal announcement to invest in the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg resonates hollowly among memories of a stronger vision and plan for Manitoba's and Canada's national treasure. Proposals presented for the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg by John Baird, James Bezan and Vic Toews are weaker versions and fragments of the Liberal plan presented two years ago, with significantly less funding. In late May 2005, then-environment minister Stéphane Dion and president of the Treasury Board, Reg Alcock, announced in the same location and room as last Wednesday's announcement at The Forks, a federal commitment of $1.1 million for a Lake Winnipeg water quality monitoring system, which included investment in continued and improved assessment of water quality along the Red River and in the south basin of Lake Winnipeg. During the 2005/2006 federal elections, the federal Liberal party announced and reinforced its continued commitment to clean up Canada's "Sixth Great Lake", through the National Ecosystem and Revitalization Plan, and pledged $120 million over 10 years to reduce phosphorus and nutrient loading to Lake Winnipeg. Two years have passed. A pledge of $12 million per year to save Lake Winnipeg has been lost. And what remains now are promises on additional spending to the $7 million promised in the March budget, which money, we are told, will only begin to flow in spring 2008. Lake Winnipeg can no longer wait for the games and schoolyard tactics to end. What is lacking in Wednesday's announcement is not merely a shortage of funds, but more importantly of vision. Lake Winnipeg deserves better.