Evidence of meeting #139 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 targets.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Senior Policy Advisor, Manitoba Wildlife Federation
No. I will.
No, because we're on the wrong direction.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
I will try to squeeze the next question into one minute.
I'm really interested in the biodiversity shield. This is a proposal that a number of people have put forward.
Whoever wants to jump in, do you want to explain to the committee the importance of a biodiversity shield?
Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law Association
Maybe I can do that by giving an example.
About a year ago, the federal government approved the Cedar LNG facility in British Columbia despite the fact that it is going to impact the critical habitat of the marbled murrelet, a species at risk, which highlights exactly why we need to ensure that biodiversity considerations are baked into federal decision-making.
In my view, when we see in practice the federal government approving the further erosion of species at risk's critical habitat, it clearly shows the need for this kind of biodiversity shield.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to start with Mr. Heald from the Manitoba Wildlife Federation.
The Kivalliq hydro-fibre link is a major project to connect Manitoba Hydro transmission lines to communities in Nunavut so that they can stop burning diesel. This project will also include fibre optic cables so that people in Nunavut can enjoy high-speed Internet access.
Can you speak to the effects of this legislation on projects such as that, given that it includes 1,200 kilometres of transmission lines in northern Manitoba?
Senior Policy Advisor, Manitoba Wildlife Federation
It's a huge concern for our organization and for first nations and taxpayers of Manitoba. That's a major link. If you can't have industrial development in any means—or mining or forestry—it can handicap future generations.
We feel there are better ways to make those areas protected, such as through wildlife management areas that can be permitted for certain issues like this, but it is a handicapping thing. If you put this in and put it under Parks Canada's control, you're turning over the decision-making to Parks Canada. That's a big concern for Manitobans.
December 11th, 2024 / 5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
To date, how much consultation are you aware of with the agricultural producers in your province or in western Canada with respect to Bill C-73?
Senior Policy Advisor, Manitoba Wildlife Federation
There's none that I'm aware of.
Conservative
Conservative
Senior Policy Advisor, Manitoba Wildlife Federation
Of all of our national partners from each province, none of us has been consulted on this whatsoever.
On the indigenous protected area and the Seal River area alone, Parks Canada opened a public consultation during the summer holidays and has held just town halls in areas that support it. We have been excluded. When our members have asked to attend, we're not allowed to attend. That's where we're at right now.
Conservative
Senior Policy Advisor, Manitoba Wildlife Federation
No. We just learned about the ecological corridors maybe less than a month ago.
Liberal
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
I'd like to ask for clarification. Did you just find out, a month ago, Mr. Heald, that there's an ecological corridors program?
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
We made an announcement in my riding, more than two years ago, about the ecological corridors project. It's fantastically popular with conservationists and with landowners. It has absolutely no implications for landowners, first of all. It's very popular, and it's been around for a long time, so I'm surprised that, as a conservationist, you haven't heard about it.
Senior Policy Advisor, Manitoba Wildlife Federation
No, we haven't been consulted or talked to about this at all. For the announcements that Terry Duguid made, nobody was invited. It was outside the circle.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Okay. Thanks.
To the best of your knowledge, Mr. Ginsberg, would this legislation have an impact on landowners' private land?
Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law Association
No. It has no substantive prohibitions or requirements. It would have no effect. It's a process law.
