Thanks, Mr. Chair.
It's hard to speak to this because I'm not really sure where we're are at now. I don't know why they don't just strike the clause.
The reason it's twofold is that there has been a regular practice by the federal crown to oppose standing when environmental lawsuits are filed.
There are two questions here. Are we dealing with the issue of whether the provision is worded in a way that says precisely...? I don't think it would be correct to say that the Government of Canada shall not oppose; I don't think that is what is said in statutes.
What is intended here is that the Government of Canada shall not deny; in other words, shall not make presentations to deny standing in those circumstances. That's a very important provision.
The whole point of this provision is to deliver on the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, which Canada and a number of provinces have signed, to provide access to remedies to Canadians on environmental matters. This provision specifically provides, in both cases, access by Canadian residents to environmental decision-making processes and to the courts.
That's why it's twofold. To remove the second part would be to say we want to withdraw from a part of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. This provision simply implements something we had already committed to about 15 years ago.