Statement made on 06 July 2010 by Senator Frank Mahovlich
Hon. Francis William Mahovlich:
Honourable senators, I have a follow-up to my question of June 3, and I know that Senator Mercer asked a similar question a few weeks ago.
I am still very concerned about the situation in the Gulf of Mexico. After two failed attempts to stop the oil leak, over 1 million gallons of oil is still being spewed into the water every day. Thus far, over 95 million gallons have poisoned the environment. The fact that a successful solution to this problem may not occur until August is simply a nightmare.
Regardless of whether or not the leak is stopped, in the coming months it is certain that the damage to the ecosystems of the Gulf Coast is much more of a long-term problem, and we will, sadly, likely see the effects for many years to come.
Many species of birds migrate from Canada over the winter months to this infected area. One of these birds happens to be the Canadian loon.
Many years ago, I was sitting on a dock in Muskoka, near the Port Sandfield Marina, where I was purchasing a boat. The owner, Alf Mortimer, came around and asked me what I was thinking about. I said that I was wondering where those loons go in the winter. He said that they go to his place in Florida, Longboat Key, which is in the heart of the Gulf of Mexico. That is where these loons are heading. I am worried that we will not have those loons next year and that maybe all I will be looking at are my decoys.
Honourable senators, we have all seen the tragic pictures of birds and other indigenous animals covered in oil. I fear that many of these animals will die as a result of coming into contact with the polluted environment. What will the government do now to help our American neighbours clean up this disastrous mess to prevent a deadly fate for our migrating birds?
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