Mr. Speaker, Canada is home to some of the planet's most vital resources. Chief among them is our abundance of fresh water. Our Great Lakes, aquifers and rivers are a critical part of our ecosystem and economy. Managing our water sources sustainably is vital, particularly in the face of potentially unsustainable industrial usage.
According to a Statistics Canada study, industrial water use accounts for 91.2% of our country's total water use, and it continues to rise.
While the federal government recently launched the Canada Water Agency, the agency's mandate must remain focused on keeping a close eye on the impact of climate change and industrial policy on our freshwater resources, particularly after the American president-elect commented on diverting Canadian water to the U.S. In Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, this work will have an impact on Lake Huron, Lake Superior and hundreds of lakes, rivers and aquifers. We must treat this issue with urgency in order to protect and manage this vital resource for generations.