Mr. Speaker, yesterday saw the opening of EcoDek, a brand new environmental tourist attraction at Toronto's CN Tower.
EcoDek is a state of the art, cost effective exhibit that promotes the principles of environmental learning and citizenship. Through this high tech, innovative, interactive and entertaining exhibit, EcoDek has the potential to reach 1.5 million visitors who annually go to the CN Tower.
EcoDek's ability to raise public awareness of and encourage involvement in environmental issues goes beyond the actual attraction. It includes an educational package that has been developed to help teachers maximize the educational value of field trips to EcoDek before, during and after classes.
To this end I am happy to report that over 600 schools from many parts of Ontario and the Great Lakes states have already booked visits to Toronto beginning in January.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister of the Environment, the CN Tower and its many partners for advancing environmental awareness in a manner that is commensurate with the city of Toronto as a world class destination for foreign travellers.