Evidence of meeting #30 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ncc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
Absolutely. Oh yes, it wouldn't change that. They already are changing the places that are being used too much, such as the area where they were climbing. That's where they are in fact doing the restoration.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
The way I understand it is that if Mr. X wants to move out of the park and sell his house, he'd offer it to the NCC first. The NCC could either buy it or not, depending on the price.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
That's my point. At what price? How would you tackle the price subject?
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
I don't think we can.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
That's the problem. With respect to first refusal, if you have a property and you want to sell it, it would be very easy for you--and I don't think you would want to be in collusion or do anything illegal--to get me to sign an offer that is four times the value of your property.
Let's assume that your property is worth $300,000. It would be very easy for you to convince me to sign an offer of $1 million. Then you would go to the NCC with my offer of $1 million and say put up or shut up.
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
The NCC wouldn't accept that.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
Well, it's only giving them the right of first refusal; it's not saying they have to buy it at any price.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Madam, the mechanics of a first refusal are exactly that, in the sense that if you want to accept my offer, legally you're bound to go to the NCC and say, “Listen, Proulx wants to buy my property. He's either going to give me $1 million or you, NCC, give me $1 million.”
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
Mr. Proulx, I think the NCC would get an independent appraiser and I doubt that they would go above fair market price. They would go for the fair market price.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Okay, so you're looking then at fair market price within your first refusal clause?
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
That's right, yes.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
That's what I wanted to hear from you. Thank you.
How much more time do I have?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Okay.
To Mrs. How or Mr. McDonnell, regardless of the definitions, how would it change the Gatineau Park as we know it now, or restored or whatever, if the NCC were to continue selling parts of it for residential purposes? I don't think commercial development should be done in the park, but let's say that they were to sell off sections for residential purposes. How do you find it would change the park?
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
We don't think that should be allowed.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
So as far as you're concerned, as of now or when the bill is accepted, that's it.
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
We think that should be the case. No more.
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
Except there is a lot of land not built on that is private property.
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
I think the NCC is meeting with these people. Several have in fact sold to the NCC already, but it is a long, slow process.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
And if they don't sell and they want to build, it's their right to build. That's the way you look at it?
4:55 p.m.
Chair, Gatineau Park Committee, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa Valley Chapter)
Yes. The municipality wants the houses to be built.
