Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that I am speaking about the Rideau Canal on Heritage Day.
Stretching from Ottawa to Kingston, the canal opened 175 years ago. It encompasses many communities, all with unique heritage: Seeleys Bay, Newboro, Westport, Portland, Perth, Rideau Ferry, Smiths Falls, Merrickville, Burritts Rapids, Kemptville and Manotick.
The canal was built to move troops and supplies from Montreal to the Great Lakes without fear of attack by Americans along the St. Lawrence River.
Lieutenant Colonel John By set up camp just a few hundred metres from where I stand today to begin this remarkable project.
Over the years, this oldest continuously operating canal of its type has become a major tourist attraction. It is a heritage river, a national historic site and, hopefully, will soon be a world heritage site.
I encourage everyone to learn more by searching on the Internet for the Rideau Canal and visiting all the sites listed there.