BURLINGTON, ONT. --
January 25, 2010
-- The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of
Fisheries and Oceans, and Mike Wallace,
Member of Parliament for Burlington, on
behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister
of the Environment, officially opened the
new Aquatic Life Research Facility at the
Canada Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington,
Ontario. The new facility is a $4.6 million
state-of-the-art laboratory designed for
studying the health of fish and other aquatic
life in the contexts of exposure to potential
environmental stressors. Built as a joint
project between Environment Canada and Fisheries
and Oceans Canada, it provides space for
scientists, graduate students, and university
partners.
"We're very proud
of the new Aquatic Life Research Centre.
It is a modern solution to providing better
water management practices," said Minister
Shea. "The Aquatic Life Research Facility
is a self-contained laboratory that is expected
to attract graduate students, young scientists,
and university professors, as well as collaborators
from provincial and federal fisheries and
environmental fields in such a way that
will make this region a leader in the scientific
community," said Minister Shea.
"The Government
of Canada is committed to funding scientific
research that benefits Canadians. We are
investing in Canada's future competitiveness
and growth. This facility's research will
support our Government's action to protect
the health and safety of Canadians and the
Canadian environment," said Minister
Prentice.
"Ensuring that
our scientists have access to safe, modern
and well-equipped facilities plays an essential
role in developing and maintaining expertise
in aquatic research," added Mike Wallace,
Member of Parliament for Burlington. "By
investing in our federal laboratories and
in scientific research, the Government of
Canada can better manage these important
resources for all Canadians."
The new Aquatic Life
Research Facility will allow scientists
to study various aquatic health issues more
effectively including:
•Effects of contaminants,
such as chemical and biological stressors,
on aquatic life;
•Impacts of changes to the food chain, water
quality and temperature;
•Effects of aquatic invasive species on
other aquatic life;
•Study of native species and their life
cycle, including species at risk.
These studies will help the Government of
Canada to meet its commitments under the
Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act, 1999, the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement, the Species at Risk Act
and other freshwater policies and regulations.
The lab will employ
the latest water recirculation technology
to ensure the efficient use of water and
energy. The new Aquatic Life Research Centre
complies with the extensive Canada Council
for Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines, as well
as the very latest Occupational Health and
Safety regulations.
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
