Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition on behalf of constituents here in Saanich—Gulf Islands, the W̱SÁNEĆ indigenous territories, which we acknowledge with gratitude.
The W̱SÁNEĆ nation, which when anglicized is pronounced “Saanich”, has a very critical ecosystem called the Saanich Inlet. As the name suggests, it is an inlet from the Salish Sea with very little flushing capacity. The petitioners are very concerned that sewage becomes a problem in the Saanich Inlet, primarily from recreational vessels and some other sources. The petitioners seek the designation of the Saanich Inlet as a zero-waste discharge area.
Another example that friends on the east coast will know where this applies is the Bras d’Or Lake, which likewise is an inlet from the sea and is protected by a zero-discharge area.
The petitioners humbly request that the government take action and designate the Saanich Inlet as also a zero-waste discharge area.