Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to outline some of the significant efforts that the government is making on this issue and to respond to the hon. member's concerns about the Devils Lake outlet project and its potential impact on water quality in Manitoba. The member did a good job in outlining this issue.
The issue is not whether or not the government will conduct its own review of the potential impact of the Devils Lake diversion on water quality in Manitoba.
The facts are that the government has been very clear in voicing its concerns that the Devils Lake outlet could transfer invasive species and poor water quality into Manitoba. We have worked very closely with Manitoba in opposing the North Dakota water diversions with potential impact on waters in Manitoba.
We have made sure that the United States and North Dakota governments are fully aware of these concerns. On this point there is no question. The government is very concerned that North Dakota has nearly completed the Devils Lake outlet without any federal oversight, environmental assessment or safeguards against invasive species or water pollution.
The real question is, what is the government doing about the Devils Lake project? I can assure the member that the government is seized of this matter and is vigorously pursuing constructive solutions.
Under the boundary waters treaty, Canada and the United States have obligations not to pollute shared lakes and rivers in a manner that injures health or property in the other country. Our government and the government of the United States both agree that the diversion of waters from Devils Lake into the Red River Basin must be done in a manner consistent with the obligations under the boundary waters treaty.
The government considers the boundary waters treaty to be fundamental to managing and protecting boundary and transboundary waters. This is why our government, with the support of Manitoba, has vigorously pursued the United States government to agree to a reference under the boundary waters treaty on Devils Lake.
A Devils Lake reference would authorize the International Joint Commission to undertake an independent scientific analysis of the risks and potential environmental impact of the Devils Lake water diversion project.
A reference would enable the International Joint Commission to make recommendations to the governments in Canada and the United States on how best to ensure the protection of the waters of the Red River and Lake Winnipeg. This is the resolution we are seeking to the very important environmental issues concerning the Devils Lake project.