Evidence of meeting #131 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Basically, I find it very amusing, Chair, that the Liberals really want to shut down this debate. They don't want to hear from Jasperites. They don't want to hear the facts.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
It continues:
“Parks Canada will continue to contribute to visitor, Jasper residents, and adjacent community understanding and support of the Jasper National Park Mountain Pine Beetle Management Plan.”
Well, judging by the fact that only by chance did I find the plan by using the right key words when Googling it, it becomes quite legitimate to wonder whether these two gentlemen have had done their job properly over the last two years.
I am still, as others residents, waiting for Mr. Fehr to coordinate an evening session. Is this not an important part of the plan that he approved to keep, among others, residents informed, to keep people aware? Even though we notice this week some effort to update Parks Canada’s “Fire information and updates” web page, we are still far away from what should have been done. Do visitors know what to do in a possible evacuation? Are visitors aware of behaviours to avoid, such as being responsible with their cigarette butts? As suggested by Mr. Ken Hodges, professional forester in his letter on May 30, why not have signage throughout the park regarding fire conditions, the fire ban and behaviour to adopt in relation to the risk? Furthermore, despite the fact that Mr. Hodges and Mr. Begin (two BC researchers) have never provided any reports only letters and emails to Parks, it is hard to understand why Mr. Fehr does not consider their expertise and recommendations as they wrote letters more than once to express their concerns about the fire threat to the town of Jasper. Between the two of them, they have over 80 years of forest management experience in BC and they think Jasper is due for a catastrophic forest fire.... According to Mr. Hodges in his letter [of] May 30: “Seasoned BC firefighters had never seen the explosive fire behaviour or ecological damage when fighting recent fires in forests exhibiting similar conditions to those in Jasper.” Still according to him “Parks actions should include more efforts in protecting the community and infrastructure by setting priorities for logging strategies throughout the park this summer.
As also stated by Mr Allan Carroll, Jasper national park decided to consider the pine beetle a “native disturbance agent” and because of that, was not intending to do much about it.... This article also states that “Foresters along the park's edge have seen a tenfold increase in beetle infestation in just months, and some scientists wonder if Parks Canada could have done more to control the invasion a few years ago”. I suppose we can all answer that question.
Not only does Parks Canada have the authority to go on with logging because of their Guiding Principles and Operational Policies, Mr. Fehr has the responsibility to protect the town of Jasper, period. Updating their website is one thing; they have to start logging right now.
Mr. Alan Fehr, Mr. Salman Rasheed, we are giving you the chance to do better by not holding a protest next Saturday since you seem to be taking action as we speak. It is the time for you both to shine, to prove and demonstrate that you have and will have the situation in hand. Are you the two who will be known for having taken the right measures in order to keep our town safe or are you going to be remembered as those who failed and let our town burn?
That is the end of the quote.
That was the letter from a local Jasper resident. Are the Liberals going to call Marie-France names? Are the Liberals going to falsely claim that she was lying?
The Liberals continue to say that Conservatives are spreading misinformation by giving voices to experts. These are not our words, though. These are the words of the witnesses who have been brave enough to testify at the Jasper wildfire investigation and to speak truth to power. Every time the Liberals falsely claim that we are politicizing—
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. I'm sorry about that, Mr. Mazier.
Just a couple of minutes ago, my honourable colleague Mr. Deltell suggested that we not call former members of Parliament or witnesses liars, and I tend to agree, even if they admit to lying or walk back their comments in a committee meeting. However, then Mr. Mazier just did the exact same thing, so do the Conservatives want to accuse former members of Parliament of lying or do they not? It's really up to them.
Liberal
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I was inferring that.... I was wondering if the Liberals were going to call the witness a liar; that's all. I was just asking a question.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
When they admit to lying, it's one thing. When they say, “You're right, okay. I was wrong”....
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I was questioning whether you were going to call more people liars. That's all I was asking.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Let's just try to keep the language as moderate as possible.
Go ahead, Mr. Mazier.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just proved it again, that every time the Liberals falsely claim that we are politicizing this issue or spreading misinformation, they are insulting the brave witnesses who testify on the mismanagement of Jasper.
Liberal
November 6th, 2024 / 5:45 p.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
I'm having trouble seeing the relevance of this discussion to the subamendment being referred to. I would remind my colleague to speak—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
There is no more interpretation. Wait a second.
Can you hear me now? Okay.
Mrs. Chatel, please start from the top.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I was simply saying that I didn't understand how this debate was related to the proposed subamendment. I would urge my colleague to stick to the subject.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Okay.
You heard that right, Mr. Mazier. I would ask you to stick to the subject.
You may continue.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
The Jasper wildfire investigation has proven one thing for certain: The Liberals are fake environmentalists. No wonder the Liberals want to shut down this investigation with another motion. They have finally been exposed for their failures, and Canadians are paying attention.
Liberal
Shafqat Ali Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Mazier and the Conservatives have, for almost the last two hours, been filibustering and proving to be fake environmentalists. They're blaming Liberals. They should stop playing these games and not waste this committee's time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I understand, but it's not a point of order, unfortunately.
Go ahead, Mr. Mazier.
