With regard to this particular amendment, it's my understanding that it contradicts the 2010 Canada-Nova Scotia MOU, in which Canada and Nova Scotia agreed not to recommend the “creation of a federal protected area” that would have an adverse impact on their interests in and management of offshore petroleum resources.
The amendment also contradicts the terms of the 2011 Canada-Nova Scotia national parks agreement. Industry may need access to Sable Island to conduct low-impact seismic from time to time to ensure that any offshore activities are conducted in a fully informed and environmentally safe manner.
As we have heard in witness testimony from across the spectrum of witnesses in the last two meetings, Mr. Chair, we do believe that through the development of the management plan, or potentially another instrument, this particular activity can be defined and put into a formal framework of some type, such that it can be done without adversely impacting the ecological integrity of the Sable national park.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])