Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to present Canada's National Recreational Fisheries Award to the Intermountain Sport Fish Enhancement Group at their annual banquet in Dauphin, Manitoba.
Created in 1989 by DFO, these awards recognize Canadians for their achievements in protecting and enhancing recreational fisheries.
The Intermountain group has established a Camp Fish youth mentoring program, with a stocked trout pond for youth fishing and education. They have created fish passage projects that facilitate access by fish to vast new areas of spawning habitat, thus ensuring healthy fish populations.
The recreational fishery in my riding is truly world class because of the fisheries conservation work done by these dedicated volunteers.
Groups such as the Intermountain Sport Fish Enhancement Group are Canada's real environmentalists, because they roll up their sleeves, get down to work and make a better environment for us all.
Our government is proud to recognize the efforts of those who make such an important contribution to conservation and recreational fishing in Canada.