Environment Committee on May 1st, 2017

[Wayne Stetski, NDP, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

With regard to national parks in British Columbia, when you think of British Columbia and you think of new national parks, how are we doing with South Okanagan in particular, and then, of course, potentially, the Flathead, which keeps coming up every once in a while as well?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

I think I should pass it on to Jonathan, given that he's from British Columbia. I think we've had some positive indications on South Okanagan. I'm always very hopeful that we can work with the provinces and territories. I think Flathead would be incredible. We continue to have discussions. There are opportunities, but unfortunately we don't do this alone. We have to work with the provinces. We work with indigenous peoples.

Jonathan.

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

The only thing I would add, and then Daniel may want to add something, is that I think perhaps we're a bit more optimistic on the South Okanagan on a go-forward basis. I think the stumbling block in the past has been an inability to get to an agreement between the federal government and the province. The province seems to be a little bit more interested in this, so hopefully we'll be able to think about how we actually move this forward.

[Daniel Watson]

Of course, putting together a national park involves the interests of a whole host of players—provinces, as raised earlier by a previous member, and indigenous groups—but there has been interest in this one for a long time. It has grown a bit recently. Parks Canada remains very interested in talking with any parties who want to continue those conversations.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Minister, Jonathan, and your team, thank you very much. It has been an excellent session. It's really nice that you gave as much time as you did to allow everybody at the table the chance to ask questions.

I just want to say that some really nice things were said about me today, but it really isn't about the chair. It is about the team. All the members in this committee have been amazing, wanting to work together co-operatively and collaboratively to try to find solutions we can bring forward to the government. Everyone is very passionate. It's a real privilege to be the chair of this committee.

I'm really looking forward to our next report. We'll see how we do in terms of its being collaborative, but we're working hard on it.

Thanks again. I'll end the meeting at this point. I understand that you would like to maybe take some pictures.

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

I'd just like to thank the amazing public servants I have the opportunity to work with every day. You know, I'm one person, but there's a whole team. Jonathan is integral as my parliamentary secretary, doing an incredible job. You can see the leadership and also the hard-working public servants who every day work hard in all their files to protect the environment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Thank you.

I'm now going to suspend.

[Proceedings continue in camera]

[Public proceedings resume]

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

We are now back in open session and we are looking at the main estimates.

CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AGENCY

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$30,640,824

(Vote 1 agreed to on division)

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$700,976,667

Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$82,361,087

Vote 10—Grants and contributions..........$119,785,748

(Votes 1, 5, and 10 agreed to on division)

PARKS CANADA AGENCY

Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$1,258,090,149

Vote 5—Payments to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account..........$500,000

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)

Shall I report the main estimates 2017-18 to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

That is the end of our meeting.

Thank you so much for your patience and for doing the details at the end.

The meeting is adjourned.