Yes.
Evidence of meeting #41 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.
Evidence of meeting #41 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.
3:50 p.m.
Senior Counsel, Canadian Heritage, Legal Services, Department of Justice
Yes.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
How is the planning tool utilized for “National Interest Land Mass”, and how would it affect the planning tool if it was not included within the legislation?
3:50 p.m.
Director, Portfolio Management, Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
That concept has been in existence since 1988, but the proposal is to formalize it in the act.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Under what legislation or regulations has it been in place since 1988?
3:50 p.m.
Director, Portfolio Management, Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
Treasury Board established that in the eighties when there was a whole review of the land holdings in the national capital region. At that time the NCC was told they would need to have good reason to hold lands for their purposes for the national capital. So when we say it's a planning tool, it's where the NCC identifies lands that have a purpose for the capital now and in the long term. They don't necessarily own all those lands. If they don't own them they have absolutely no power over them. It depends on who the owner is and whether or not provincial or municipal zoning applies.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
How would it affect the act itself if this were taken out?
3:50 p.m.
Director, Portfolio Management, Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
It's just an opportunity to formalize that process. This is something that has been criticized as having a lack of transparency and clarity in terms of all those properties that are being designated as being part of the NILM. This is something that stakeholders have raised. The panel that studied the review of the NCC raised it. The Auditor General raised it. So this is an opportunity to bring a transparent process in all those lands that are designated.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Has the Government of Quebec referenced this particular clause in any way?
3:50 p.m.
Director, Portfolio Management, Crown Corporation Governance, Department of Transport
The correspondence that Mr. Nadeau referred to is something that Minister Cannon responded to a year or two ago. He basically said that the “National Interest Land Mass” is meant to be a planning tool. It is not intended to infringe on provincial or other jurisdictions.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Okay, a recorded vote.
(Amendment negatived: nays 8; yeas 3)
This amendment is defeated, which also addresses amendments BQ-5 and BQ-8.
We're on government amendment G-3.
Mr. Jean.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The third amendment deals with the interest of the “National Interest Land Mass”, which we just referenced. It's amended so that it includes Gatineau Park and the greenbelt, as well as the other properties designated by the commission.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Again, this would be one that I would traditionally rule out of order or out of scope. I'll look to the committee for direction.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Mr. Chair, will it be necessary to challenge your finding on that on a consistent basis, or can we have some resolution in regard to that?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Given that the committee has already decided on the inclusion of greenbelt references somewhere else, which is in the definitions, it would stand to reason that the bill as it now stands would accommodate greenbelt references throughout, and the chair should recognize such.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
The committee is its own engine, Monsieur Proulx.
Are there any other comments?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 2 as amended agreed to)
(On clause 3)
We're on clause 3, amendment L-1.
Monsieur Proulx.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is the question on the proposal that there would be an even number of members on the board. You'll recall that when witnesses from the National Capital Commission were here, I requested the explanation for having an even number. They gave us some reasons, but I wasn't satisfied, so I asked if there was a possibility of giving un vote prépondérant to the chair of the committee, and they again did not answer my request to my satisfaction. Therefore we have put forth this amendment that will increase the board. Instead of 14 members, it would be 15 members, so we would have an uneven number of members on the board.
