2010/06/08

Ottawa, Ont.

40th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION

RE: Question Period-World Ocean Day

Mr. James Lunney (Nanaimo—Alberni, CPC):
 
Mr. Speaker, the year was 1992. The setting was the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Canada, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, proposed a concept of a worldwide ocean day. Since then, ocean day has been celebrated internationally on an annual basis.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment advise the House of the unprecedented and historic undertaking announced by this government on World Ocean Day?

Mr. Mark Warawa (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, that is a great question from the member for Nanaimo—Alberni. I want to thank him for his work on the environment.
 
Yesterday, our government tabled an amendment that would create the Gwaii Haanas national marine conservation area reserve and the Haida heritage site.

Canada will be the first country in the world to protect a region from the alpine treetops in the mountains to the depths of the ocean floor. This, along with the government's commitment to the creation of a national marine conservation area in Lancaster Sound, puts Canada as among the great stewards of the planet's oceans.
 
I urge all members in the House to support the Gwaii Haanas, an achievement for all Canadians to be proud of.