Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am from Kitchener Centre, in the Region of Waterloo, which of course is one of the new high-tech hubs of Canada and the world. I was elected in 2008, after having practised law for almost 30 years. And if the definition of retirement is leaving what you have been doing to do something you really enjoy, then you could say that I am retired and quite enjoying my work as a member of Parliament.
I suppose I have two personal reflections on our work for the environment committee. One is that my lifelong passion has been wilderness canoeing, and I've spent many a happy hour paddling through the lakes and rivers of northern Ontario and Quebec. So I am certainly quite sensitive to the question of protecting our natural environment and quite aware that in fact it's said that a true Canadian is one who has a love for the natural environment.
However, I want to say also that my own home has running through it the Grand River watershed, the greatest river in southern Ontario. And it provides an excellent example of how nature and man can co-exist in balance, whether it's deer or beaver. That river runs right through the middle of a metropolis, so I think a lot can be learned. In fact, we're hoping to set up an agency on water studies, based in the Grand River watershed, so we'll learn a lot from that experience at this table.
Thank you.