Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of rising today to present a petition from my riding and the residents of York—Durham, specifically the residents in the town of Georgina along Young's Harbour, about a new invasive aquatic species in Lake Simcoe called water soldier.
Water soldier was discovered in Cook's Bay last year and has been confirmed by the water soldier working group, which is a group of civil society members, including the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. Water soldier is an invasive species. It threatens human health. It crowds out native species in the lake. Overall, it reduces the enjoyment of our jewel, Lake Simcoe, in Ontario, but there is hope. There are remediation efforts available.
The petitioners call on the government, therefore, to do three things. First, identify water soldier as an invasive species. Second, select a single point of contact for the water soldier working group. Third, provide sufficient financial and technical resources to the water soldier working group so that it can get this under control.
I thank the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Chippewas of Rama First Nation for bringing this to my attention.