It would require that before the memorandum of understanding is concluded between Parks Canada and the board, the Minister of the Environment would table the proposed draft to Parliament and the House of Commons would refer the MOU to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, and that the environment committee would study the proposed memo and report its finding to the House.
Also, the amendment asks that the Minister of the Environment take into account any report of the committee. If the memo does not incorporate a recommendation of the committee, the minister shall explain to the House the reasons for not incorporating it.
I think this was because there's been a lot of talk at this committee of what happens next, of what is the next stage with Sable Island.
I know my colleagues and I discussed an MOU between the board and Parks Canada, or a directive; I guess I'm suggesting a bit of both. This would require that the environment committee study the MOU between Parks Canada and the board before it is included, not after it has been negotiated and it is too late for input. As we've said many times, it's a very special park.