Evidence of meeting #32 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.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
What do you do with an owner who has more land than necessary and who decides that his children are all ready to have a house? Are you going to let him subdivide his land to enable his children to settle there?
4:35 p.m.
General Director, Regional council for the environment and sustainable development in Outaouais
No, because if the park has national park status, it will no longer be under municipal jurisdiction. There will therefore be no more residential zoning or any opportunity to subdivide a lot.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
So it's preferable to ensure that the park doesn't have national park status.
4:40 p.m.
General Director, Regional council for the environment and sustainable development in Outaouais
On the contrary, it's preferable to ensure that it has national park status. The municipalities currently have jurisdiction over the territory.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
That's what I had understood.
Mr. Murray, you didn't answer me because the Chair interrupted us. How many members are there on your committee?
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
If I ask you how old you are, you won't answer me: 39; it depends.
4:40 p.m.
Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee
Could you tell me why that would be important?
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
4:40 p.m.
Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee
Look at the page where we list the successes and results obtained by the Gatineau Park Protection Committee. We've managed to convince MPs and senators to introduce this bill—
4:40 p.m.
Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee
I can answer your question concerning the NCC's powers.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Pardon me, Mr. Murray, but you are here as a witness, and we ask the questions. We would like you to answer us.
4:40 p.m.
Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee
That's what I'm trying to do.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
I read your brief. You talk about experts and broad consensus. That consensus exists among which organizations, Mr. Murray?
4:40 p.m.
Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee
When we talk about a consensus over the park, we consider what was said during the consultation exercise for the renewal of the NCC's mandate. The Coaltion for NCC Renewal submitted a brief—Ms. DesRoches co-drafted it, I believe. They requested legal status for the park and a stop to real estate development in the park.
You'll find an exhaustive response in the brief I sent your office on Bill S-210. Of the 55 groups that made presentations during the consultation for the renewal of the NCC's mandate—I believe there are 16, including ACRE Chelsea—all wanted legal status, that is to say boundaries and a way of limiting residential development within the park. So there is a broad consensus on the subject.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
All right.
Mr. Murray, what do you do about the vested rights of the people who are already owners in the park?
4:40 p.m.
Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee
What's the solution, Mr. Proulx? Is it to leave the park—
4:40 p.m.
Co-Chair, Gatineau Park Protection Committee
Well, I'm giving you an answer.