Mr. Speaker, since a National Wildlife Week was declared by Parliament in 1947, this event has highlighted to Canadians the importance of conserving our wildlife. April 6 to 12 marks National Wildlife Week this year, a great opportunity for Canadians to pay tribute to a national treasure.
The beaver, the loon and the polar bear on our coins, and the maple leaf on our flag, are symbols that epitomize the richness and diversity of this country's wildlife. These symbols help bind us together as a nation.
This year's theme for National Wildlife Week is “Native Species, Nature's Choice”. It highlights growing concerns about the devastating impacts of invasive alien species on Canada's wildlife and the environment. Although some of these species may be benign, others are harmful and are taking a huge toll on our wildlife habitat.
The federal government has a long history of action in addressing invasive alien species and is developing a national plan to better prevent the introduction and spread of such species in Canada.