Madam Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to respond to the concerns expressed by my hon. colleague on the status of Ojibway Shores.
I share his belief that the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas is of great importance. I note he began his remarks by citing the recent United Nations report highlighting that one million of the world's eight million species were facing the threat of extinction.
Before I deal specifically with the Ojibway Shores question, I want to remind him that in budget 2018 our government laid out a $1.3-billion investment in nature and conservation, which is unquestionably the largest single investment of its kind in the history of Canada.
Our government takes the concerns associated with the management of Ojibway Shores very seriously.
The Minister of Transport was entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that Canada's transportation system functioned in the best interest of our national economy, while preserving our natural environment through prudent, sustainable management. Achieving an appropriate balance between these two areas is a major priority of our government.
Under the Canada Marine Act, the Windsor Port Authority has been given the legal and administrative autonomy to determine its own course of action, taking into consideration economic, social and environmental factors, as well as the viewpoints and priorities of the port's users, stakeholders and local communities.
The Windsor Port Authority has therefore the responsibility and the legal authority to carry out day-to-day operations and is entirely responsible for managing port lands, including federal land such as the Ojibway Shores.
On January 30 of last year, the Windsor Port Authority publicly stated that the industrial development of Ojibway Shores would be placed on hold, that it supported the idea of preserving the 33-acres of environmentally sensitive land and that it would give due consideration to any reasonable land exchange proposal that could achieve this important objective.
It is also my understanding that the Windsor Port Authority and the City of Windsor are currently exploring different scenarios that could result in a mutually beneficial exchange of properties that would include the Ojibway Shores. A balanced exchange of this nature would permit the long-term management and preservation of Ojibway Shores, while allowing the Windsor Port Authority to continue pursuing its objectives for increased economic development and trade benefiting the Windsor-Essex region.
I want to commit to the member that protecting nature and conservation is a major priority not just for me personally but our government. We have made the single largest investment in nature and conservation in the history of Canada. I look forward to continuing to work toward this important objective.