Mr. Speaker, the department has been actively involved in protecting Canada's fragile environment.
Recently we announced the $10 million national soil and water conservation program. That $10 million will be distributed by adaptation councils and other similar groups across the country to conserve and enhance soil and water stability and quality, to conserve biodiversity and to deal with any adverse effects the uses of farm inputs may have.
The province of Ontario was the first to come forward with its application and I have presented it with a $625,000 cheque.