Evidence of meeting #81 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was parks.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Will the protection of the Migratory Birds Convention Act still apply to prevent even potentially disturbing low-impact seismic activity in relation to the protection of migratory birds?
10 a.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
Yes, it does, and so does the Species at Risk Act.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Very good.
In spite of the fact that there are really all kinds of seismic activity possible at certain times of the year right now on the island, I understand that the only thing that's been authorized has been the low-impact seismic testing in 1999. Is that correct?
10 a.m.
Director, Parks Establishment, Parks Canada
I believe there was also some seismic work done in 1996, but 1999 was the last one.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Thank you.
Was the 1996 also low-impact seismic work?
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
All right.
Is there any basis whatsoever for speculating that anything different would occur in the future, other than what occurred in 1996 and 1999?
10 a.m.
Director, Parks Establishment, Parks Canada
We have no basis to think that something would be done differently.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
All right.
Just to be a little more legalistic regarding the question of how to address that more formally, the offshore petroleum board accord act is federal legislation. Is that correct, and is it mirrored by Nova Scotia legislation?
10 a.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
It's mirrored federally, yes, Canada-Nova Scotia.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Do those acts permit regulations to be passed pursuant to them outlining the kinds of parameters that we're speaking of today?
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
All right.
To your knowledge, do all parties and stakeholders at the moment agree with Ms. Zoe Lucas that the 1996 code of practice is acceptable and has no adverse impact on the island?
10 a.m.
Director, Parks Establishment, Parks Canada
We have not consulted the public specifically on the 1996 code of practice. That's within the purview of the board.
But I think the report and the findings by Ms. Lucas speak for themselves, in terms of the fact that she felt the program was a success in minimizing the impact on Sable Island.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
So that might be more restricted.... Do you think that the board and the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada are all in agreement that this code of practice would be an acceptable means of proceeding in the future, whether by regulation or by memorandum of understanding?
10 a.m.
Director, Parks Establishment, Parks Canada
The code of practice plus the board's procedures for doing environmental assessments and that sort of thing would be, yes.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Right.
That's the last area I wanted to ask you about. If there is time, and if you are able to tell me—and I don't know whether all of these questions would be within your knowledge—I want to ask you about the board's procedures.
First of all, the easy question is, whatever decision the board makes is going to be subject to only the four specified allowable activities that are found in this act. Is that correct?
They can't authorize anything more than the four, very limited, specific items in this act. Is that correct?
10 a.m.
Director, Parks Establishment, Parks Canada
Yes. Clause 8 in Bill S-15 is clear that, with respect to Sable island National Park Reserve, the surface access rights provided for under this section are limited to “the following”, and those are the four things that Mr. Latourelle addressed.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Okay, I understand that, but I just want to make sure that the board can't go beyond them. Is that correct?
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
All right; that's definitive.
Do you know, if you can tell me, whether in the course of making its decisions the board has a formalized procedure for consulting with the Mi'kmaq Indians in respect of Sable Island? You may or may not know; I understand.
10 a.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
I cannot speak. I'm not sure. From their perspective, I assume that they do because of duty to consult.
10 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
When the board authorizes activities, must it comply with the parameters in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act?
10:05 a.m.
Director, Parks Establishment, Parks Canada
Again, that is our understanding.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
