Environment committee  For that part, we will ensure that we protect the natural ecosystems and the cultural landscapes, and the—

Environment committee  Yes, we will ensure that.

Environment committee  For the definition of “ecosystem”, I think there are several of them, and there are some that are very complex. We can provide a list to the committee, but—

Environment committee  Mr. Chair, as an example, I'll read for you the definition of “ecosystem” under the National Marine Conservation Areas Act: “ecosystem” means a dynamic complex of animal, plant and microorganism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.

Environment committee  I'm not sure that's clearer than what we have before you.

Environment committee  Mr. Chair, I can't commit the government, but what I will say once again is that the concept of protecting the natural ecosystems and cultural landscapes, and the maintenance of native wildlife is, from where I sit, a pretty simple and basic concept that we can implement. If Parliament decides that this legislation goes forward, we can implement that, supported by all the other clauses that reinforce the conservation objectives of the bill.

Environment committee  I don't think it can be done without.... I think there are different options. If the option is the one that was thought about initially in 1994, I think it's not going to happen without significant impacts on the farming community. There are other options we are looking at that I think are achievable.

Environment committee  I think when you look at the—

Environment committee  It's only in the National Parks Act. For example, the Rouge park preamble is specific to Rouge park. It is a bill for this park only, not a system of urban parks.

Environment committee  Mr. Chair, as a result of the devolution to the Northwest Territories, the lands have moved from federal ownership of the lands in the specific area to the territories, so we are working with them. As we do elsewhere where there are provincial governments that have ownership of the land, we work through them first before we move with the public consultation with stakeholders and partners.

Environment committee  I've heard of it, yes.

Environment committee  Our next step is to work hand in hand with the territory to agree on the next step, because we at Parks Canada would not be out there by ourselves. We want to make sure that every step of the process, including public consultation engagement, is done in collaboration with our territorial partners.

Environment committee  The Government of Canada has done a land withdrawal to look at the feasibility of establishing this national park. That land withdrawal is still in place, so we are still working with the Government of the NWT.

Environment committee  Mr. Chair, first I'll take a step back to the National Parks Act, because immediately people turn to subsection 8(2), which is the ecological integrity clause. But the real purpose of national parks is not that. It is part of the act, but the dedication clause, which has been there since 1930, is really the main purpose in dedication of national parks.

Environment committee  I think that is the starting point. The second part of it is that when you look at Banff, as an example, you have close to 6,000 square kilometres of land adjoining Jasper National Park and another 10,000 square kilometres. You can have highways, but when you look at a place that's 16,000 square kilometres, we have been successful in maintaining the ecological integrity of that place based on the definition that's currently in the National Parks Act.