Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise in the House to mark the first day of National Wildlife Week.
The National Wildlife Week Act was passed in 1947 to commemorate the life of Jack Miner. A trapper and a hunter, he was known as the father of North American conservation and was credited with saving the Canada goose from extinction. Canadians, and especially our hunters, anglers, and trappers, have been conservation champions for over a century.
Our Conservative government is building on Jack Miner's legacy by taking steps to protect Canada's rich natural heritage. Since we have formed government, we have created two national marine conservation areas, three marine protected areas, three national wildlife areas, two national parks, and a $25 million recreational fisheries conservation partnership program. We have also created a hunting and angling advisory panel.
Soon we will unveil a new national conservation plan, and we are working to create Rouge national urban park in the greater Toronto area.
This week I call on all Canadians to reflect on and appreciate Canada's magnificent natural endowment. I would like to add my personal congratulations to the member for Yorkton—Melville.