Transport Committee on Dec. 7th, 2009

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

If you have an amendment, and if the chair--

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I'm sorry, you've already called it. That's right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

If you're working on an amendment, which I know you had some discussions on... Do you want to defer this and move on and come back to it when the amendment is written? I am prepared to do that.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

That's fine, go ahead.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Call it?

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Call it. You've already called it, according to Brian.

(Amendment negatived)

(Clause 9 agreed to)

(On clause 10)

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We move to amendment NDP-2.

Mr. Bevington.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

I move that clause 10 be amended by adding after line 10 and before the heading, “MASTER PLAN”, on page 5 the following:

GATINEAU PARK

10.01(1) Gatineau Park, the boundaries of which are set out in Schedule 2, is hereby established.

(2) Gatineau Park is hereby dedicated to the people of Canada and Quebec for their benefit, education and enjoyment and shall be maintained and made use of so as to leave it unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

(3) Maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity, through the protection of natural resources and natural processes, shall be the first priority of the Commission when considering all aspects of the management of Gatineau Park.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Before I look for comment, I will advise the committee that if this amendment is adopted, then the Bloc amendment BQ-3 will not be proposed.

Comments?

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

My understanding is that this is pulled from the Canada National Parks Act. I'm not 100% certain if that's what took place.

As drafted, actually, the first concern is that the private properties that are owned by Quebec residents would actually be dedicated to the people of Canada and Quebec, and that would obviously impinge upon the rights of the private property holders within the park's boundary.

I'm also worried about the term “unimpaired” because it could be interpreted as to unduly restrict the rights of the property owners and the general public in the park.

Those are a couple of the concerns, but I think this is not necessary, quite frankly, given that Bill C-37 already proposes to introduce a definition of Gatineau Park as the area described within the schedule. So it's not necessary.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Further comments?

Seeing none, shall amendment NDP-2 carry?

(Amendment negatived)

On amendment NDP-3, Mr. Bevington.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

We understood there was a counter proposal to amendment NDP-2. Is that not forthcoming now?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It's a little further down, and we take them as they're submitted.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Are you referring to government amendment G-5?

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Is that the one where it comes in?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We're actually dealing with amendment NDP-3.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Okay. If I can go ahead, then, with amendment NDP-3, it reads that Bill C-37, in clause 10, be amended by adding after line 10 and before the heading, “MASTER PLAN”, on page 5, the following:

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

10.02(1) The Minister shall provide opportunities for public participation at the national, regional and local levels in the development of policies and management plans for Gatineau Park and in any other matters that the Commission considers relevant.

(2) In carrying out his or her functions under subsection (1), the Minister shall consult with the Government of Quebec.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Are there comments?

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I'm wondering if the committee would agree to consider this with the government's counter proposal. After the meetings with all the parties, the government actually proposed something that was not exact but similar to this. I'm wondering if we could table that at the same time, or would you rather deal with this and deal with that later, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It's entirely up to the committee.

Is there comment? We'll deal with this as it is?

Okay.

Are there any other comments?

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I would just like to add my comments to it. I think the reality is that from the government's perspective it does have a good thought in principle, and indeed when a master plan is proposed, I think it's important for the public to comment across the country and for the public to have that opportunity, and certainly that is included within G-5. G-6 also includes the master plan, which will include principles and the objectives for the park and the greenbelt itself.

So we would be against this particular one, but we would suggest something similar later on in relation to, in particular, the annual reports and also its activities regarding Gatineau Park, so that the public would have an opportunity to comment, and indeed it would be reported to Parliament.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Moving right along. Mr. Bevington, NDP-4.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Mr. Chair, if I might be so bold, the government has a counter proposal to this one, so why don't we just go on to that and we'll deal with it there?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

So you'll withdraw this one?