Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Paul Morralee, Paul Capon, and Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior for their successful bid to protect heritage lighthouses in Thunder Bay—Superior North.
Their work will create much-needed economic development opportunities for rural communities and augment our new Lake Superior marine conservation area.
On May 29, the minister announced that 74 lighthouses will be designated under the act, but she did not specify which ones. Many groups are still in the dark about whether their lighthouses have been given heritage protection. Without this status, it is difficult for them to move forward with any needed repairs or apply for any new funding opportunities for lighthouse maintenance.
Once again this government's secrecy is affecting Canadians and Thunder Bay—Superior North's regional economic development opportunities.