Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of National Wildlife Week in Canada. From April 6 to 12 Canadians will make a commitment to safeguard wildlife and celebrate its tremendous significance through various events and activities.
The 1997 theme for National Wildlife Week is ecological sustainability and the Canadian Wildlife Federation chose "Wild Things Need a Place to Grow" as this year's slogan for all promotional materials.
This reminds us that we must sustain healthy places for wildlife to live and grow if we want our animal life to remain in existence for years to come.
As in past years, National Wildlife Week co-ordinators from each province and territory helped spread the conservation message throughout communities.
For example, what began in Ontario with a few individuals discussing wildlife issues around a table has now grown so that museums, tourist areas, conservation centres, schools, youth groups and municipalities across the province will be spreading the message of the need for sustainability of all our wildlife.