Environment committee  I commend this committee for passing that motion. It's critically important to see the scale of investment that's needed for the disasters and droughts of this past summer. The severity of the crisis we're seeing continues to be demonstrated. With the drought that's continuing right now, we're seeing that the drinking water supplies for first nations and municipalities are dangerously low.

Environment committee  Yes. Thank you for the question. We've pulled data that we accessed through federal reporting. We found that between 2008 and 2022, Ontario received $224 million in federal freshwater funds for the Great Lakes and Lake Simcoe protection and restoration. We saw in budget 2023 a real historic commitment of $420 million over 10 years for the Great Lakes.

Environment committee  Thanks for that question. This really is an opportunity for job transition into the watershed sector. It's timely. The working for watersheds initiative has highlighted the watershed sector's really significant role in supporting jobs. In B.C., it's more than 47,000 people annually.

Environment committee  Hello. Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today as we discuss the fresh water study in the face of climate change. My name's Coree Tull. I'm the co-chair of the BC Watershed Security Coalition. We're a non-partisan coalition representing 50 organizations and 255,000 British Columbians from all corners of the province.

Transport committee  Thank you very much for the question. The huge opportunity we have in British Columbia right now is to see these proactive investments in the work that's happening to restore our natural infrastructure. As you said, our watersheds ultimately are nature's infrastructure and they provide the resilience that we need for our communities.

Transport committee  No, the federal government has not yet come to the table with investments. I understand that perhaps there may be conversations that have started government to government. Recognizing that the disasters we're seeing and the billions of dollars being put out by the federal government to react to the disasters happening in British Columbia can be dramatically rectified by pre-emptively investing in these natural defences, the watershed security fund would be a critical opportunity for the federal government to move forward not only on some of their financial commitments around the freshwater action plan, but also through infrastructure, agriculture and advancing UNDRIP and reconciliation.

Transport committee  Absolutely. What we have seen from the investments that have happened in British Columbia is that partnership is critical. No one government or community can do it alone, and we need to see that partnership among nations, community organizations and provincial and federal governments in order to do this work.

Transport committee  Thank you very much for the question. I'm going to actually pass this over to my colleagues, as they can speak directly to some examples on the ground where they've seen this work through investments and saving opportunities. Zita, may I pass it to you?

Transport committee  Good morning. My name is Coree Tull, and I am the co-chair of the BC Watershed Security Coalition. We are a non-partisan coalition that represents 48 organizations and 255,000 British Columbians. I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak today and to discuss this important topic.