Those are two good questions, Mr. Chairman.
The first one involves the respective responsibilities of the provinces and of the federal government. We have proposed amendments in this regard. We are still at the draft stage, but this would allow for changes at sections 5 and 8. We say, for example, “[...] while recognizing the respective roles and responsibilities of the federal government and the provinces and territories;“.
Obviously, we want to do two things at once. The environment does not recognize borders, be they international, national or municipal. The idea is to work in collaboration with all levels of government while respecting the jurisdiction of the provinces. As a former minister of State responsible for infrastructure and communities, I am very aware of the fact that by virtue of the Constitution cities fall under the responsibility of the provinces. However, the federal government must make the sustainable development of the country's cities and provinces a priority. We must not be going in opposite directions.
In my opinion, we must recognize that what is required is team work involving the provinces, the federal government, the territories, the municipalities and the private sector. The approach for the future must be one of cooperation. It is not possible to separate responsibilities in certain situations given the fact, for example, that the air we breathe circulates between provinces, crosses over national borders, etc.