An Act to amend the National Capital Act (Gatineau Park) and to make a related amendment to the Department of Canadian Heritage Act

This bill is from the 41st Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in August 2015.

Sponsor

Nycole Turmel  NDP

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

Status

Defeated, as of April 30, 2014
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the National Capital Act to establish the boundaries of Gatineau Park, to clarify the National Capital Commission’s responsibilities with respect to Gatineau Park and to remove the Commission’s authority to modify the boundaries of Gatineau Park or sell public lands situated within the Park.
The enactment also amends the Department of Canadian Heritage Act to specify that Gatineau Park is included in the organization, sponsorship and promotion of public activities and events, in the National Capital Region, that will enrich the cultural and social fabric of Canada.

Elsewhere

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

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-565s:

C-565 (2010) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (arrest without warrant by owner)
C-565 (2008) Corporate Social Responsibility of Mining Corporations Outside Canada Act

Votes

April 30, 2014 Failed That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 11:55 a.m.

NDP

Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be speaking to Bill C-565, a very important bill introduced by my colleague from Hull—Aylmer, who is also the chief opposition whip. This bill must certainly have meaning for most members of the House because it aims to protect one of the national capital's treasures. I was somewhat familiar with this region before, but I have learned more about it in recent years, now that I come here quite regularly as part of my duties as the MP for Sherbrooke.

Tourists certainly know about the park—it attracts 2.7 million visitors a year. That is quite impressive. One of the reasons why I am pleased to be speaking to this bill is that I love the national capital region, the Outaouais. Of course, I prefer the Eastern Townships, but that is a debate for another day.

There has been some debate about protecting parks in the Eastern Townships. For example, Mont-Orford provincial park created a lot of buzz in the Eastern Townships. The leader of the official opposition knows that topic well, as he was the Quebec minister of the environment at the time. That is why I think it is important to support the bill introduced by my colleague from Hull—Aylmer, which is designed to protect Gatineau Park.

I imagine that the majority of my colleagues' ridings include a number of parks or protected areas. For example, Sherbrooke has Bois-Beckett park, a wonderful spot that is protected by a municipal bylaw. There are provincial parks such as Mont-Orford. I am sure that there are parks in every riding. I believe that Drummondville has Voltigeurs park and, of course, the Boisé Marconi wooded area. Those are areas where biodiversity is protected by municipal, provincial or federal regulations. Today in Parliament, we are talking about a park under federal protection.

We need to protect the biodiversity of all these protected areas, giving animals a place to take shelter when there is a lot of construction and more and more people living on their land. It is important to preserve places where biodiversity can continue to grow. Gatineau Park is one of those important places in the region.

This immense park, which covers 7.8% of the greater national capital region, allows species threatened by the growth of areas inhabited by humans to go to places that are safer for them. That is why I support Bill C-565.

Here are some key facts to further the public's knowledge of this park. The park recently celebrated its 75th anniversary and is currently managed by the National Capital Commission. Unfortunately, Gatineau Park is currently not protected.

That is why the bill was introduced. The park currently has no protection. It can be sold to real estate developers. Houses can be built there. The law does not set any limits. The bill would ensure that real estate developers could not start a project in Gatineau Park without approval by Parliament, as is the case for all of Canada's national parks.

Giving an extremely important park like Gatineau Park similar protection—even if it is not exactly the same—is the least we can do. That is what the bill proposes. The bill would not make Gatineau Park a national park like all the others, but it would give it similar protections in order to protect the biodiversity so that the park's 2.7 million annual visitors can continue to enjoy it for years to come and our children and grandchildren can enjoy it as well. This is how we can ensure the sustainability of this massive green space that is part of the region.

It is also important to note that two official residences are located in Gatineau Park, including the residence of the Speaker of the House. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, you do not live there, but as the current occupant of the chair, you are entitled to live in the residence, which is located in the park. The Prime Minister's country retreat is also located in Gatineau Park.

The bill proposes a number of things. I cannot list them all, but the bill's main purpose is to establish the park's boundaries and to prevent the sale of public land within Gatineau Park. This bill was drafted following a number of consultations held by my colleague, the member for Hull—Aylmer, who circulated petitions on this matter. It was one of my colleague's campaign promises. This bill is the result of extensive consultations and did not just appear out of thin air.

Other members have introduced bills in this regard. In the past, the government itself introduced bills concerning the park. Unfortunately, although the park has existed for 75 years, nothing has been done to this point.

When we vote on the bill in a few days, I hope that all my colleagues will follow my example and vote for this bill at second reading. We have heard that some Conservative members want to vote against it. However, I hope that they will change their minds so that we can at least send the bill to committee. I have heard some criticism from the Conservatives, but if the bill does not go to committee, it will be impossible to improve it. I urge those members to vote for the bill at second reading. If they have suggestions on how to improve the bill, they can bring them forward in committee. I urge all my colleagues to vote for Bill C-565, as I will be doing.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / noon

NDP

Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the House for their participation in this debate, which is particularly important to the people of Hull—Aylmer.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the dozens of volunteers involved in my “Together let's protect Gatineau Park” campaign. Their passion for our park is truly inspirational.

What I heard during this debate is that, like these volunteers, MPs recognize the exceptional value of Gatineau Park. We all hope that it will be preserved.

However, as we know, good intentions are not enough to protect the park. We now have a responsibility to put words into action.

Over the past seven years, the House has examined several NDP initiatives to meet this objective. All of them died on the order paper. There is no more room for failure. We must move forward if we want to leave a healthy park to future generations.

Whether it be because of its rich biodiversity or its contribution to the economic development of our region, Gatineau Park is clearly a genuine national treasure.

It is unacceptable that Gatineau Park is the only major federal park that has no legal standing and no legal protection.

The measures proposed in my bill are simple. They will remedy this situation by giving our park protections similar to those in place for our national parks.

In practical terms, this means that Gatineau Park would be granted real legal standing. Its boundaries would be entrenched in law and could no longer be secretly changed.

The National Capital Commission's mission would also be changed to include the responsibility to protect Gatineau Park's ecological integrity and to acquire the real property located within the park.

This bill will finally give Gatineau Park—a park that was created 76 years ago—the protection it deserves.

When I launched the “Together let's protect Gatineau Park” campaign in 2012, I quickly realized that the protection of this park is a cause that goes beyond political allegiance.

By signing my petition to protect Gatineau Park, thousands of people in the Outaouais region and throughout Canada have already given me their support. I also have the support of non-governmental organizations known for their expertise in this area, such as Nature Canada and the Ottawa Valley chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Today, I urge all members from all parties to support this bill. I urge them to send the bill to committee so that we can truly discuss the very foundation of the bill and its benefits and, by working together, find a solution to protect our park.

I urge them to respond to the call of our volunteers from across the country, from citizens and organizations who care about the future of Gatineau Park.

We cannot let this opportunity pass us by once again. I know that people are hesitant and have questions, but those cannot be sorted out in the House. We can only answer these questions by sending this bill to committee, having an open discussion, and listening to the public and organizations as they make recommendations, offer suggestions and tell us exactly what they expect.

As I mentioned at the start of my speech, everyone agrees that Gatineau Park needs to be protected. In 20 years, we will no longer be able to say that we forgot, that we dropped the ball and that we should have done something when we had the chance in the House.

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to think about this and to protect our park together.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 12:05 p.m.

The Acting Speaker Barry Devolin

It being 12:09 p.m., the time provided for debate has expired.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 12:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 12:05 p.m.

The Acting Speaker Barry Devolin

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 12:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 12:05 p.m.

The Acting Speaker Barry Devolin

All those opposed will please say nay.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 12:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 28th, 2014 / 12:05 p.m.

The Acting Speaker Barry Devolin

In my opinion the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the recorded division stands deferred until Wednesday, April 30, immediately before the time provided for private members' business.

The House resumed from April 28 consideration of the motion that Bill C-565, An Act to amend the National Capital Act (Gatineau Park) and to make a related amendment to the Department of Canadian Heritage Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 30th, 2014 / 6:20 p.m.

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-565.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #108

National Capital ActPrivate Members' Business

April 30th, 2014 / 6:25 p.m.

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

I declare the motion defeated.

It being 6:28 p.m., the House will now proceed to the consideration of private members' business as listed on today's order paper.