Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all of you. We very much appreciate your expertise.
Like you, I'm interested in prevention. I'm surprised that one of the issues that has not come up today is climate change. The World Bank-funded global invasive species program reports that in a warmer world, more extreme weather and higher levels of carbon dioxide will give some species an edge, devastating ecosystems at sea and on land. We know that species that have already invaded North America may find new suitable habitats to invade, thereby expanding their range. Moreover, there may be a better match between suitable habitats in Canada and the source homelands. So you may get new exotic species invading and atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide may favour certain species separate from the warming.
Ms. Wallin, could you discuss the potential economic impacts of climate change on invasive species, recognizing of course that you don't know what will invade?