Mr. Speaker, from 1952 to 2000, the Department of National Defence fired shells in Lake Saint-Pierre, which is a UNESCO world biosphere reserve.
It is estimated that over 300,000 shells are currently at the bottom of the lake, including 8,000 unexploded ones. These shells are an environmental threat and they also pose a problem to users. They are a handicap for commercial fishermen, shoreline residents and numerous ecotourism projects.
My constituents are concerned about their safety. Moreover, these shells are an impediment to their will to take charge of their region's development.
The government must assume its responsibilities by correcting the situation, particularly since the technology to remove these shells is available.