Mr. Speaker, I congratulate a Canadian company on a noteworthy accomplishment.
Syncrude Canada, a mining company and major contributor to the economy in Canada, has just opened a nature trail north of Fort McMurray that reflects the mining industry's commitment to Canada and our environment. In the spirit of co-operation and responsibility, the Wood Bison Trail was opened by the premier of Alberta at a ceremony attended by 4,300 spectators.
Most notable is the trail's entrance which is marked by a native carving of bison that stretches 30 feet in the air. It is called the Bison Gateway and was sculptured by the native artist Brian Clark. This monument marks Syncrude's $2 million reclamation project on a mined out area around Wood Bison Trail. As further evidence to this commitment a herd of wood bison has been reintroduced to the area after being extinct for hundreds of years.
I congratulate everyone involved in this project. It is an example of what can be accomplished when government, industry, environment and native groups work together to harvest our resource wealth and leave the area productive for future generations.