Mr. Speaker, yesterday the fisheries minister gave us the criteria for introducing a $15 million dredging program on the Great Lakes. I would like to apply that same criteria to the Athabasca River region.
The minister said that there were $2 billion worth of investment in the Great Lakes region. Well there are $35 billion worth of investment in the Athabasca River region. The Athabasca River has been a lifeline to the people of Fort Chipewyan for hundreds of years. His answer was an insult to those people.
What is the real reason for the difference between the two regions?