Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on May 12th, 2016

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

I'd like to pick up on a conversation we've had on a number of occasions, and that's with respect to establishing parks and the role of the indigenous communities in doing that. The previous government was very limited in terms of its engagement. In my riding of Scarborough—Rouge Park, for example, the Rouge National Urban Park abuts my riding and is very much part and parcel of it.

I know the conversation that you have had with respect to engagement. Without getting into specifics on that case, can you outline overall how you have been engaging on establishing national institutions such as parks and heritage sites?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Engagement with indigenous communities is absolutely critical for parks. As we heard in the statistics that I provided previously, you could not establish parks in many cases unless you had proper engagement with indigenous peoples.

It is a big success story. We are trying, of course, to do more and we're looking at how we can engage better. For example, Torngat Mountains National Park, if I'm not mistaken, has entirely Inuit employees. This is an example of a huge success story. It provides economic opportunity and ensures that traditional knowledge is incorporated.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you.

Arnold Viersen, we have time for one minute of your five-minute round.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

I get a whole minute. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here today.

I understand that Canada currently has approximately 10% of our land set aside for the Aichi biodiversity targets. Our commitment is 17% by 2020. Does this land include any reserve land that you know of?

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

There is a criteria with respect to protected areas. We have a significant way to go, and we're working very hard. It includes working with provinces and territories. It's really whether it meets the international criteria to be considered a protected area.

I will ask the head of Parks Canada to specifically answer that.

[Daniel Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency]

We work very closely with the provinces and territories on this, because on the land mass, they are the biggest holders of the land there.

As the minister pointed out, it does need to meet the standards set by the IUCN, and we have agreement between the federal government and the provinces on how to approach that. I'm working closely with them on that front.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

How is aboriginal land going to tie into that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Arnold, I'm afraid we're out of time.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

That was a very short minute.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

That was a minute and seven seconds.

Thank you, Minister McKenna, Mr. Martin, Mr. Watson, and Mr. Hallman, for joining us today. We really appreciate your making the time for us.

We'll be in touch as time goes on.

[Catherine McKenna, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

The meeting is adjourned.