Mr. Speaker, tonight the topic for discussion is whether the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will keep the 1993-94 budget levels for the Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg and the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington. Both of these institutions are internationally renowned freshwater research institutes. They study and monitor the quality of Canada's lakes and rivers.
During the 1970s and 1980s policies were developed to control acid rain and to regulate the use of phosphates in detergents. Those policies were due, in good part, to the groundbreaking science developed at the Freshwater Institute.
Another achievement came recently when researchers at the Freshwater Institute proved that the banned insecticide toxaphene travels by air from as far away as Asia and Central America and contaminates some of our lakes.
These studies warn us and help us to understand the ecology of our country. They also tell us when toxins are entering our food chain. Thus we are able to monitor their effect on the long term health of Canadians and the environment.
Freshwater is the resource of the future. Unfortunately, we are cutting back on the research budgets at the Freshwater Institute and the Centre for Inland Waters. I am told that in 1993-94 the budget for freshwater science was $10.5 million and that this amount will be reduced by up to 70 per cent. This spells virtually the end of important work of many Canadian scientists at the Freshwater Institute and their leading research as well. The protection of our freshwater resources for the benefit of future generations requires continuous funding of research.
To conclude, tonight I ask the minister through his parliamentary secretary whether he will commit to maintaining the budget for freshwater science in Canada at the 1993-94 levels.