National Capital and Gatineau Park Act

An Act to amend the National Capital Act (Gatineau Park)

This bill was last introduced in the 38th Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in November 2005.

Sponsor

Ed Broadbent  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Not active, as of Nov. 15, 2005
(This bill did not become law.)

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

October 26th, 2009 / 4:15 p.m.
See context

Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee

Jean-Paul Murray

Thank you very much, Mr. Nadeau.

I'll start by mentioning that all the private member's bills that have been introduced to date have drawn on the National Parks Act.

In the first bill that was introduced, we cooperated with Mr. Broadbent on the wording of Bill C-444. First we prepared a preliminary draft by cutting and pasting sections from the National Parks Act. Then we presented that to the legislative drafter to make a bill out of it. Consequently, our five pillars are essentially designed to amend the National Capital Act such that Gatineau Park is managed as a national park. However, Gatineau Park was to be a national park starting in 1912. The process was thus never completed, and the park remained the only federal park that is not a national park.

With regard to the issue of residential construction, regardless of whether it was the Federal District Commission, the forerunner of the NCC, the Greber Report in 1950, the Advisory Committee's Report on the master plan to develop Gatineau Park in 1952 or the master plans of 1980, 1990 and 2005, all the planning exercises of the National Capital Commission have provided that all private lands within Gatineau Park were gradually to be recovered. That has not been done and, since 1992, construction has proceeded on 119 new residences and the park has lost 8 km2 of land. This is real carnage.

With respect to the territorial integrity of Quebec, international law and especially Canadian law acknowledge the existence of the territorial integrity of the provinces. International law also recognizes the internal aspect of territorial integrity. In other words, the federal enclaves in Quebec, such as aboriginal reserves, ports, airports, communications facilities, military bases and other entities, are internal territories with internal boundaries, but, especially where the national parks are concerned, the federal government recognizes the internal aspect of the boundaries of Quebec's territorial integrity. Consequently, the National Parks Act provides that the consent of the province concerned must be obtained in order to change the boundaries of a national park in any province.

In my opinion, if we want to manage Gatineau Park as a real national park, this matter must be considered. Contrary to what Mr. Proulx said, I'm not just criticizing; I'm also proposing amendments. Our amendments propose that the Government of Quebec be involved in the process of preparing a management plan and demand that the Government of Quebec be not only consulted, but also that it give its approval before the boundaries of Gatineau Park are changed in order to expand it.

I hope that answers your questions, Mr. Nadeau.

National Capital and Gatineau Park ActRoutine Proceedings

November 15th, 2005 / 10 a.m.
See context

NDP

Ed Broadbent NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-444, An Act to amend the National Capital Act (Gatineau Park).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my bill, an act to amend the National Capital Act, Gatineau Park. The bill is seconded by my colleague, the member of Parliament for Skeena--Bulkley Valley.

The bill would amend the National Capital Act to establish for the first time legal boundaries for Gatineau Park. If brought into legislation, it would give legal status to the park and would recognize that one of the objectives and purposes of the National Capital Commission is to acquire privately owned real properties or provincial properties situated in Gatineau Park. It would also require owners of real property situated in the park to give the NCC a right of first refusal on the sale of the property. In short, it would ensure Gatineau Park remains a treasure for future generations of Canadians.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)