Mr. Speaker, some 100 countries, 80 of them developing, are facing the consequences of desertification, which results from non-sustainable soil use practices. As a result, 900 million people may be affected by this ecological disaster, which leads to famine and population shifts.
The United Nations has declared June 17 World Desertification Day. This decision is one of the follow-ups to the Rio Conference held in June 1992. Subsequent international negotiations resulted in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. To date, it has been ratified by 29 of 115 signatory countries, including Canada. But this convention must be ratified by 50 countries before it can come into force.
On this World Desertification Day, I urge the Government of Canada to assume a leadership role vis-à-vis other countries so that this convention can come into force as quickly as possible.