Mr. Speaker, last December the government amended the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and recognized the value of participant funding in the environmental assessment process. MPs from all sides of the House supported this effort to give the public greater access to government decision making.
Higher levels of public access and consultation allow the environmental assessment process to be more representative of the Canadian people. As the Minister of the Environment said during debate on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, it is one thing to say that people have a say, it is another to give them the tools to exercise their right.
I agree wholeheartedly with the minister and believe that my Bill C-339 will extend this level of access and participation in the decision making process without increasing government expenditures.
I would ask all members of the House to support Bill C-339 when it comes to the House for a vote in the near future.