I'd like to call the meeting of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to order. We're in meeting number 82.
Prior to introducing our witnesses, I have something I would like to read, which I understand has been worked out with all parties:That, notwithstanding the decision made by the Committee on June 13, 2013, the Committee move immediately to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, following the witness testimony on Monday, June 17, 2013.
Are all in agreement with that? I understand we're in agreement to move directly into clause-by-clause study after the witnesses are finished.
Thank you very much.
We will move now to our witnesses. We have seven witnesses tonight. Three of them are joining us by teleconference.
To save a bit of time, I'm not going to mention all of them now. I'm going to go in the order that's listed on the orders of the day. If you don't have a copy, we can get a copy to you.
We'll begin with the Government of Nova Scotia, the Honourable Leonard Preyra, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.
I have asked our witnesses as much as possible to try to limit their opening statements to between five and seven minutes to give us more time for questions from members; however, I will be a little flexible there, so we'll move ahead with that understanding.
Honourable Leonard Preyra, would you begin your statement, please.