Thank you very much, Mr. Fisher, for your tireless efforts on this file.
I and our government are always happy to consider solutions for how we can protect more nature. It's because of your advocacy, because you spoke very often about the importance of protecting the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes wilderness area, that we're doing so and offering Haligonians a greater opportunity to connect with nature for generations to come. Protecting nature is not just in far-flung places, it's where people can actually get to it.
As you mentioned, we have a $1.3-billion historic investment in protecting more nature. It's been very exciting to see the interest across the country from indigenous peoples, conservation groups, towns, cities and Canadians. Canadians believe we have a chance to protect what we love but also, as we know, nature is very important as we tackle climate change, a natural sink of climate change as we adapt to the impact of science.
My deputy has pointed out we have many different successes, but one of the most powerful ones was protecting Edéhzhíe, over 14,000 square kilometres in the Northwest Territories, from work by the Dehcho. It was very moving to be there while the snow was falling, while they talked movingly about how long they had worked to protect this area.
Scott Islands off the coast of B.C., the greenbelt area in Montreal, the Isle Haute, which I know is very important to our colleague Bill Casey.... There are many examples of how we can work together.
We also announced a $100-million investment to support conservation groups like the Nature Conservancy, working with partners like Ducks Unlimited.... I think there's a huge opportunity to work with all Canadians to protect more of the nature that we love.