Madam Speaker, my statement today is dedicated to the Municipality of Chateauguay, which has implemented two great sustainable development projects that our community can be proud of.
In December, the municipal council recognized the exceptional nature of the Île Saint-Bernard wildlife refuge and identified it as a municipal heritage asset. The City acquired it in 2011 and has since been working to preserve this communal treasure that was once the home of Marguerite d'Youville and the Grey Nuns.
Shortly before that, Châteauguay took the equally important step of protecting the Fernand-Seguin Ecological Centre forest, a 70-hectare area that extends all the way to Île Saint-Bernard, in perpetuity. Mayor Nathalie Simon and her municipal team were featured in a Québec Science article for this initiative.
I congratulate Châteauguay for doing such a great job of dovetailing the environment and the economy.