Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago the government pledged to complete the national parks system by the year 2000. To date, only four of the promised 15 national parks have been created.
Two years ago Parks Canada reported that only one park is not under pressure. The other 38 are threatened by logging, mining, road construction, hydroelectric and tourism developments. In addition, eight national parks are not protected by the National Parks Act. Evidently, Canada's national parks are in deep trouble as the panel headed by Jacques Gérin, a respected international consultant, is about to report.
The Speech from the Throne makes a very positive reference to national parks. I congratulate and urge the government to provide legal protection to all national parks, complete the national parks system and implement the recommendations of the Gérin report.