Statement by Official Opposition Environment critic Megan Leslie (Halifax) on World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is a time to reflect on the role that oceans play in our lives. Our oceans regulate the quality of our water, air and climate. They are a vital food source for people around the world. Here in Canada, oceans form the economic backbone of many of our coastal communities.

Yet the Conservative government continues to put our oceans at risk. This year, for instance, they announced additional budget reductions to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, even though this department has already endured many previous rounds of cuts.

Canadians deserve better.

Globally, corals and fisheries are being decimated by over-consumption, invasive species, illegal fishing and marine pollution. And climate change is a looming threat to the health of our oceans, causing rising water levels and ocean acidification, which damages marine ecosystems and jeopardizes billions of dollars’ worth of fish stocks in Canada alone.

The theme of this year’s World Oceans Day—“Together we have the power to protect the ocean”—underscores that each of us can take action to help preserve our marine environments for future generations. I encourage all Canadians to join this effort.