Mr. Speaker, today the Toronto Star reported that the provincial minister of the environment has vowed to save the Oak Ridges moraine as part of her challenge to make the environment a priority once again with the Ontario government. She is quoted as saying “For the first time it seems the premier and my cabinet colleagues are committed” to the environment.
It is nice to know the provincial government has finally listened to what the people around the greater Toronto area have been saying since the 1980s. It is nice to know that the provincial minister now has a great appreciation of protecting the environment and that the moraine is an environmentally sensitive area.
Let me remind the House of an announcement made by the Minister of Transport in my riding on March 23 this year. In addition to the award winning park designed for the Downsview lands, and in addition to the renewal of the Toronto waterfront, the federal government will protect in perpetuity 7,562 acres of land around the Rouge Park and the Oak Ridges moraine.
This was the right thing to do. Now let us see how the province will contribute to saving the Oak Ridges moraine.