Evidence of meeting #154 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was bank.
A video is available from Parliament.
7:15 p.m.
Senior Director, Trade Rules, International Trade and Finance Branch, Department of Finance
I'm not sure of the exact amount between vice-chair and chair. I know between the vice-chair and the members, it's approximately $40,000 per year.
The chair is perhaps two levels above that. I'm not sure of the exact amount.
7:15 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
Okay. You said vice-chair positions were eliminated before that for budgetary reasons, and why was that?
7:15 p.m.
Senior Director, Trade Rules, International Trade and Finance Branch, Department of Finance
It was part of the deficit reduction action plan.
7:15 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
We don't have a deficit anymore, so it's totally fine. Okay, good, just checking.
7:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Okay. In regard to this, obviously the rationale would be some more meetings would be carried on if there is a delay of the chair, or if the chair has not been reappointed, for example.
Is this a problem where the efficiency of the tribunals are in question, and this is to make them more productive? Do an increased number of hearings need to be done?
7:15 p.m.
Senior Director, Trade Rules, International Trade and Finance Branch, Department of Finance
The tribunal certainly is facing a fairly busy time right now. There have not been any issues in being unable to have enough members to fulfill their work or anything of that nature.
The idea behind these different amendments is to clarify certain aspects of the act. In the case of the vice-chair position, it's to ensure a clear, second-in-command, if you will, if there are vacancies in the chair position, but it's not related to any kind of existing vacancy or concerns that have happened in recent times.
7:15 p.m.
Conservative
7:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay. Thank you, both, for answering our questions. That completes division 8.
Division 9 is on “Canadian High Arctic Research Station and Application of an Order in Nunavut“.
All three witnesses are representing crown-indigenous relations and northern affairs: Patrick Barthold, director, northern governance and partnerships directorate; Annie Moulin, acting director, arctic science policy integration, northern affairs, crown-indigenous relations and northern affairs, and Dan Pagowski, legal counsel, justice Canada.
7:15 p.m.
Annie Moulin Acting Director, Arctic Science Policy Integration, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Hi. I'll be speaking to the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act, and my colleague here will be speaking to the application of an order in Nunavut.
The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada manages the construction of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station located in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Once finished, the station will house the offices of Polar Knowledge Canada. Transferring the land and the research station from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to Polar Knowledge Canada is the last step in the creation of the most recent federal research organization.
The Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act describes two situations whereby the transfer of federal real property from one federal organization to another can take place, either from one minister to another or via crown corporation.
Polar Knowledge Canada is a departmental corporation, and Minister Bennett is responsible for both Polar Knowledge Canada as well as the department holding the real property that is to be transferred. Therefore, neither condition is met. The proposed amendments to the act would address this inconsistency by allowing Polar Knowledge Canada to be treated as a crown corporation, solely for the purpose of transferring federal real property.
Thank you.
7:20 p.m.
Patrick Barthold Director, Northern Governance and Partnerships Directorate, Northern Governance Branch, Northern Affairs, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Thank you.
In 2014, the Northwest Territories Devolution Act repealed an important order in council regarding game declared in danger of becoming extinct. An unforeseen consequence of this repeal is that the legislature of Nunavut may no longer have the clear authority to restrict or prohibit indigenous people from hunting game for food. This situation creates a regulatory gap and uncertainty for the Government of Nunavut in its ability to manage wildlife.
Therefore, the proposed initiative would clarify that the order in council is deemed to have continued to be enforced and to apply in Nunavut. This would provide the necessary authority and would cover the period from the time of the repeal of the order in April 2014, and going forward.
This retroactive provision would ensure the validity of legislative actions taken by the government under the Nunavut Act and ensure greater certainty in relation to wildlife management for the benefit of Nunavummiut and all Canadians.
In conclusion, I want to thank the committee for continuation of these measures related to the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act and the Nunavut Act.
We are ready to answer any questions you may have.
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
Michael McLeod Liberal Northwest Territories, NT
Mr. Chairman, I want to know how the Northwest Territories Devolution Act accidentally impacts Nunavut's ability to manage their own wildlife.
Maybe you can give me an example of how that happens.
7:20 p.m.
Director, Northern Governance and Partnerships Directorate, Northern Governance Branch, Northern Affairs, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
For sure.
As an example, when the Nunavut Act was negotiated and created, basically, they took the NWT Act and copy-and-pasted everything. For some reason, Nunavut also has the ability to manage wood, but we all know there's not a lot of wood in Nunavut. Basically, when the NWT Devolution Act repealed the order in council, it was an oversight and the order in council was repealed for Nunavut as well.
Does that answer your question?
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
Michael McLeod Liberal Northwest Territories, NT
Sorry. I guess it's the same thing for the forest fire money.
7:20 p.m.
Director, Northern Governance and Partnerships Directorate, Northern Governance Branch, Northern Affairs, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Sorry, I couldn't—
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I think the second comment applies to division 6.
Are there any questions over here?
Yes, Mr. Dusseault.
7:20 p.m.
NDP
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
Given that the Species at Risk Act applies across Canada, it applies in Nunavut. From what I have understood, you are trying to use this amendment to close the gap concerning the game declared in danger of becoming extinct order, which has not applied since 2014, but which will apply retroactively.
7:20 p.m.
Director, Northern Governance and Partnerships Directorate, Northern Governance Branch, Northern Affairs, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
My answer is yes with respect to the order, which was repealed in 2014 and could apply. However, the Species at Risk Act is not at issue here because it is overseen by the Department of the Environment. Both laws are needed for proper wildlife management in the territories.
7:20 p.m.
Director, Northern Governance and Partnerships Directorate, Northern Governance Branch, Northern Affairs, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
...a legislative gap.
7:20 p.m.
NDP
Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC
We are talking about a legislative gap affecting wildlife protection in Nunavut.
7:20 p.m.
Director, Northern Governance and Partnerships Directorate, Northern Governance Branch, Northern Affairs, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
That's right.