Environment Committee on March 12th, 2026

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to return to the proposed Seal River Watershed national park in northern Manitoba.

My question is this: Given that the minister was unclear, who will decide which activities will be permitted, and who will have access if the park is created?

[Andrew Campbell]

I'm happy to respond to that question.

As the minister stated, we are still in the consultation phase. Part of that consultation phase, at the end of it, will be the creation of an establishment agreement. Normally, in that establishment agreement between first nations rights holders, the province and ourselves, some of that will be established.

On that, as well, obviously, we meet with anybody who has a current land tenure either within the area or not. You asked earlier about lodges and lodge owners; they will be part of that process as well and part of that establishment agreement process.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

What does that timeline look like?

[Andrew Campbell]

That would be a question better asked of the minister, just as—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

We don't get answers that way.

[Andrew Campbell]

However, I will give the answer that I can give on the timing.

Certainly it is our intention to continue to move forward quickly on Seal River with the province. The province has its own consultation process that will soon be out, which also will impact the timing on that.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

In that space, Mr. Campbell, federal disclosures show that your department has provided more than $7.7 million to advocacy groups promoting this proposal, including the Seal River Watershed Alliance and the Audubon Society. At the same time, we've heard from local tourism operators, hunters and anglers that they have not been consulted yet. Why is there this double standard? Also, is that funding that's currently allocated, that $7.7 million, going to be continuing into next year, or is that also ending with the supplementaries?

[Andrew Campbell]

There will continue to be some of that funding, because there are multi-year contribution agreements with some of that funding.

On the Seal River Watershed, that group is primarily the first nations in the area, and part of our agreement with them.... They are the ones who brought the project forward, and part of our establishment with them is to provide some capacity funding in that way. However, yes, from a formal consultation perspective, certainly the Manitoba federation of hunters, anglers and wildlife will get an opportunity, the same as everybody else.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I certainly hope that comes to fruition.

Now, nearby is Wapusk National Park, which was established a number of years ago. Licensed hunters were excluded from that area, despite earlier assurances from Parks Canada at the time of implementation.

Is there a risk that that's going to happen in this new park, too, if it moves ahead?

[Andrew Campbell]

Wapusk National Park was done under the different sort of regime of consultative processes of earlier national parks.

Again, it will be part of the negotiation of the establishment agreement, and we will be listening to all concerned groups as this moves forward, including, I will add again, the lodge owners who are in and around the park area.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you.

I'll move south, to Clear Lake. Will boaters be allowed back this summer?

[Andrew Campbell]

We are still in the final stages of discussions with the Clear Lake association, with the seven first nations and with the Métis. We are hoping in very short order to have a response out.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I certainly hope it is a positive one, because people would like to regain access to that.

With that, Mr. Chair, I'd like to pass my remaining time to Ms. Anstey.

[Andrew Campbell]

If we can.... That was almost a question—or not—around—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

You can submit it to the committee, please.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Chair, pursuant to the notice of motion that I tabled on February 25 pertaining to the net-zero advisory body, I would like to move it at this time.

Would you like me to read it into the record?

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Yes, please.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

I move:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite former members of the Net-Zero Advisory Body, Simon Donner and Catherine Abreu, to appear for one hour;

That the committee request the production of all briefing materials, memoranda, analyses and formal advice provided by the Net-Zero Advisory Body to the minister related to emissions reduction targets, sectoral pathways and interim milestones, and that such documents be provided to the committee within 30 days of the adoption of this motion;

That the committee request documentation of all expenditures incurred in relation to the Net-Zero Advisory Body since its creation in 2021, including but not limited to travel, hospitality, venue, catering and administrative expenses, and that such documentation be provided within 30 days of the adoption of this motion.

This even came up several times today in speaking with the environment minister. It's very relevant to the work of our committee, and I think it's an important meeting to have.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

The notice period has been respected. The clerk tells me it was distributed February 25.

Mr. Eric St-Pierre.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Could we release the witnesses and suspend momentarily while we retrieve this motion? There have been a lot of motions distributed recently, so I'd just like two or three minutes to find this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Is it the will of the committee to suspend?

Witnesses, you're free to go. Thank you very much for your time.

We'll suspend.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

The committee has resumed.

Mrs. Miedema, go ahead, please.

[Shannon Miedema, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks for the time to review the motion in detail.

I know that, for staff, the idea of 30 days to be able to produce that volume of materials is causing concern. I'm wondering if we could think about this. I think the preference would be to eliminate the timeline, to say “in a timely fashion”, or to at least have the same standards as an ATIP request or something like that. I think 30 days might be problematic. I'm wondering if we could consider saying that for both the second and third paragraphs, where it says everything has to be done “within 30 days of the adoption of this motion”.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Mr. Leslie, go ahead.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm sure on our side we would accept a friendly amendment of 45 days, to be in line with an OPQ response.