Mr. Chair, I have heard the comments by my colleague Mr. Proulx. The first letter does date from October 2007, but the second dates from November 2009. It is shorter. It is from Mr. Béchard and is addressed to Josée Verner, who was then and is still today the Minister of Intergovernmental Affaires.
The letter reads as follows [Translation]:
Dear Minister:
Bill C-37, An Act to amend the National Capital Act and other Acts, which is currently being considered in the House of Commons, is a cause of some concerns for the Government of Quebec, and some
This is the case for the concept of "National Interest Land Mass" defined in the bill, which will enable the National Capital Commission (NCC) to designate all or a portion of any immovables that are part of the National Interest Land Mass that is part of, for example, Gatineau Park and other land located in and around the City of Gatineau. This new tool, due to the NCC's increased presence on the Quebec side of the Outaouais region, further complicates the Government of Quebec's exercise of its jurisdiction with respect to land-use planning. As well, Quebec's minority representation, as compared to Ontario, on the NCC board of directors, is still unacceptable, in view of the potential impact of the decisions that will be made on the Outaouais in Quebec.
I would therefore reiterate the request made by the Government of Quebec in a letter sent to your predecessor on October 16, 2007, a copy of which is attached, that all necessary measures by taken by your government on these issues to respond to Quebec's concerns.
Sincerely yours,
Claude Béchard
I would point out that the letter of October 16, 2007, that he refers to is the one I read to you before this.