Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of the aboriginal royal commission, the passage of Bill C-6 is not just about honouring federal government obligations or paying moral debt to aboriginal people. It is about the development and implementation of firm and consensual foundations for a new relationship between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians. In this case it is about a fair sharing of Mackenzie Valley land and water resources and the strengthening of a relationship of mutual and peaceful co-existence.
It is my pleasure to rise in the House to participate in the debate on Bill C-6, an act to provide for an integrated system of land and water management in the Mackenzie Valley, to establish certain boards for that purpose and to make consequential amendments to other acts.
The bill implements obligations under land claims agreements between the Government of Canada, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu Dene and the Metis respectively. The main purpose of the bill in accordance with the land claims agreements is to create an integrated co-management regime for land and waters in the Mackenzie Valley that would be applied through the creation of certain boards.
These boards will be comprised of 50% first nations representatives and the other 50% federal and territorial representatives. This will give the first nations a far stronger role in decision making. It is the result of extensive consultations and a co-operative effort among the northwest first nations, the territorial government and the federal government.
The Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated supports the enactment of the bill. The Gwich'in Tribal Council is on record supporting the bill. The Government of the Northwest Territories supports the intent of the bill. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Canada Energy Pipeline Association support the bill. We support the bill and speedy passage of the legislation. One of the main reasons for our support is the co-operative effort behind the drafting of the bill.
The bill provides the land use planning boards with the power to develop land use plans and to ensure that future use of the land is done according to the approved plans. The land and water boards and their panels are given the power to regulate the use of the lands and the water, including the issuance of land permits and water licences. The Environmental Impact Review Board will be the main instrument for the examination of the environmental impact of proposed development, including public review.
With an increase in local accountability and responsibility, particularly when the northwest first nation and the territorial government will be in the majority position on each of the boards being created, there is no question that the new integrated system of land and water management in the Mackenzie Valley will be far more sustainable in the long run.
For example, the Kluane first nations and non-aboriginal people who live in an area of Kluane have land use planning boards. The population in that area is just over 300 people and those meetings regularly draw out over 150 people to participate in the planning and care of the land in that area.
The Liberals have made polluters responsible for policing themselves. Degradation of our environment including air, soil and water has increased under the government. Canada is falling behind its international obligations to protect the environment. Our Arctic is polluted because of specific actions or policies of the federal government. The federal Government of Canada is failing to protect our air, water resources and ecosystems, and there is a long record to prove it.
We are all aware of and have experienced the dramatic implications, including in my own riding, of the cuts in spending and staff the government has imposed on Environment Canada. The impact of such a policy has been compounded by provincial and territorial cuts in the same areas.
Canadians have seen the environmental protection service of Environment Canada hard hit with the downsizing of the government. This was the branch that set unenforced regulations on industries like mining, chemical production, and pulp and paper. We are aware the federal government with its ideological doctrine of business competitiveness and deregulation is imposing declining standards on our environmental conservation programs.
We are optimistic that the devolution process and the implementation of land claims agreements like the one being completed by the passage of the bill will stop the trend to degrading our environment.
The relationship between the first nations and the environment is one embedded in a different cultural relationship and is not there for short term economic gain.
The report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples grasped the spiritual relationship of the first nations with their environment. The final report of the commission indicated the ultimate importance to aboriginal societies of the spiritual relationship to the land. The relationship arises not only because of dependence on the natural world for life itself but out of a belief that human beings were placed on earth at creation and given special responsibilities for the stewardship of our environment.
The views of aboriginal society will now be included in the new resource policy for the valley. It will be its responsibility to manage land and water in the valley in the most appropriate way.
It is a pleasure to be present and participate in the debate of a bill promoting a more positive relationship between aboriginal groups and the rest of Canadians. Bill C-6 has implemented a new approach concerning the recognition of the rights of aboriginal people in the management of land and water resources. This new approach ratifies respect for the treaty relationships that Canada is creating with our aboriginal societies. That is good for aboriginals of the country and good for Canada as a nation.
In conclusion, I reiterate our support for the bill and will work for its passage in a quick and speedy way that shows respect for the people who so carefully drafted the bill.