And I appreciate your efforts to promote effective action on water issues by the many agencies with responsibilities in this area. As you know, water is a vital resource. But managing it effectively is also a pretty complex issue. Co-ordinating the activities of all these partners poses some real challenges, and I'm looking forward to hearing your views on sustainable water management today. From our MOE perspective, effective water management is fundamental to the healthy and sustainable communities Ontario needs and wants.
Water resources are also vital to our social and economic well-being.
MOE is one of several provincial ministries with special responsibilities for protecting water, and for managing them effectively and sustainably. In this regard, I'd like to mention a couple of important provincial initiatives we have currently under way. MOE is one of the co-chairs of this committee, along with the Ministry of Natural Resources. The committee was created to respond to significant water issues facing Ontario including the possibility of future shortages, water allocation issues, water requirements of ecosystems, and water transfers and diversions. To address these issues effectively, the committee has been asked to develop an Ontario Water Policy, and a Provincial Water Business Plan.