Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to stand for the people of Yellowhead. Today I rise to present a petition, signed by more than 11,000 Canadians, calling on the government to immediately reverse Parks Canada's decision to end the search and rescue dog program in Banff National Park. This decision sparked widespread public outrage and attracted attention locally, nationally and in international media. For decades, these highly trained dogs have saved lives, located missing people and supported avalanche rescues.
One dog, Leroy, alone located 57 missing people in just seven years and has received three different commendation medals of bravery. With the avalanche season approaching, Canadians are rightly concerned about the consequences of eliminating this life-saving program.
I have also sent letters urging the Minister of Environment to reverse this decision. I hope the minister acts on the letters faster than it takes for the government to formally respond to the petition. The petitioners call on the government to immediately reverse this decision and restore canine search and rescue capabilities in Canadian national parks.