Evidence of meeting #81 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was parks.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
You're out of time, Ms. Leslie, but there's another five-minute round to the NDP, so it's your call.
If you want five minutes, you have it, or you can give it to one of your colleagues.
NDP
Conservative
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
It's pandemonium here. Thank you. I'm going to keep going.
Like Ms. Duncan, when I first took a look at this bill, I was very worried about this being a precedent. She has been very consistent about trying to get an answer about whether or not it will be a precedent. Thank you for clarifying that in your words here today.
Also, my understanding, when I read this legislation, is that this is an amendment to the offshore accord act. It is not an amendment to the National Parks Act . I perceive that as further evidence that there isn't a precedent here when it comes to Parks because it's not actually an amendment to the National Parks Act.
Am I interpreting that correctly?
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
There's an amendment to the Canada National Parks Act by including Sable Island National Park Reserve, which will be subject to all of the key clauses of our National Parks Act to ensure that the ecological integrity is the first priority, for example. That has not changed, and that, again, is the standard across our system.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Great.
I want to go back to this idea of the development of a directive. Again, I think this is an elegant solution; this is a really interesting solution.
Would you commit to coming back to committee to report on this as it goes?
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
Yes. What we want to do is work with the board and really engage the public. We'd be prepared to bring the outcome of that. I would suggest that through the management plan it would be the best instrument to bring back that information to the board.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Thank you. It would be wonderful to have you come back. I appreciate that you made a commitment here to move forward with this.
With that commitment, can you go over again what the next steps are? What happens first? Do you have even a sense of a timeline or any more information we could have about how this will work and unfold?
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
Our objective is to do this before the management plan, just as the initial stage of the management plan. I can't give you a timeframe today because we want to make sure we do it right, in terms of the consultation process and in terms of the engagement process that we would put in place. I can tell you that there's a firm commitment by both the board and Parks Canada to work together to define this.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Thank you.
I think Madame Quach had another question about the other parks.
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I will continue on this subject.
You said that a second park would be affected. Indeed, there would be new activities and a new expansion to the Marmot Basin Ski Area, which is located in Jasper National Park. You said that these were long-term projections over five to fifteen years, and that there would be a limit to the growth in activities.
What are those limits based on? What criteria will be used to establish the limits to that growth? How much growth will there be?
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
Regarding the process for the ski centres, we are working with the operator and the public to define capacities. I want to be very clear in that regard: everything starts from an ecological point of view.
Following the strategic environmental assessment and the work done with our partners, they identify any changes they wish to propose. In some cases, we turn them down. We negotiate with them. In fact, the lease will be changed to reduce the size of the territory. We will be going from 118 hectares to 60 hectares in another area, which is less ecologically sensitive.
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
You are talking about a less ecologically sensitive area, but I imagine that there might be repercussions on the wildlife. Are there any species which will feel the impact of the skiing activities?
Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
I will be very clear. There are also studies being done. In fact, it's really the first stage of the process. To begin, there are guidelines, after which we propose changes to the bill. Then, there will be a master plan. We will start with the ski centre, which will be subject to public consultations and an environmental impact study. Specific projects will follow after that.
The environmental impact assessment will identify any issues. Under the guidelines for more sensitive areas, we have already clearly identified the zones and the types of studies which will be carried out.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
Thanks very much. That's the end of the time.
We'll move now to Mr. Sopuck.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Chair, if there is consensus, is there any chance I would be allowed to ask a question?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
My understanding, as the chair of the committee.... I want to give all of our committee members an opportunity to ask questions. At the end of that time, if we have unanimous consent for a question from a member who's not a member of this committee, we would proceed in that fashion.
Mr. Sopuck.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
Thank you.
I'd like to pursue Ms. Duncan's line of questioning regarding low-level impact.
I don't know the area personally, so bear with me. At the current time, without it being a national park reserve, it is open to normal drilling operations. Is that correct?