Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the officials for joining us today and for their speeches if they were able to give one earlier. I appreciate all of your insight and all of your hard work in protecting Canada's greatest natural asset, which is not just my opinion but something that I believe we all have to recognize. We're unique in the world, as a country, to be the stewards of so much of a vital resource that the world depends on. We're sort of like guardians in that regard.
I'm fortunate enough to have spent a lot of time out on the water in Canada, as I paddled a kayak for Canada for many years. I guess that helped deepen my profound appreciation for how our built environment can have an impact on the clean water resources that the country relies on.
This study is really important to my community. It's part of the Lake Ontario watershed. I was part of the group that advocated for more money for the Great Lakes in the previous budget, and I was really proud to see an incremental $650-million allocation for Great Lakes restoration, for the elimination of invasive species, and for the protection of that most vital natural resource.
I have a very basic question for anybody who would like to add a little insight.
We're starting this freshwater study. It's going to be rather lengthy, which I think is important given how enormous our country is and what an incredible privilege and obligation Canada has to protect this natural resource.
What can we all learn about the federal obligations of the Government of Canada with respect to protecting our environment? What can we know a little more about with respect to jurisdiction and our abilities to protect this most vital resource?
My question is for anybody, as it's very general.