Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Mr. Delbert O’Brien for his many lifetime contributions that make the Ottawa Valley such a wonderful place to live. An esteemed member of the Ottawa Valley legal, political, business and agricultural communities, Mr. O’Brien’s community contributions are many and varied. His recent nomination to the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame highlights his farming involvement and years of work with the Ontario drainage tribunal, which adjudicates disputes under the Ontario Drainage Act on the impact of water management on farmland use.
Del is the calibre of appointee to head up the new Canada water agency as someone with much practical knowledge and common sense. When Del O’Brien speaks, people listen. Though retired for some years, Del is still very active in sharing his considerable institutional knowledge and years of experience, recently calling for a revolution in rural planning policies.
I congratulate Del O’Brien.