Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-7 at third reading.
First of all, I would like to thank my colleagues on the heritage committee for their quick and efficient consideration of this bill. I would like to thank the Parks Canada and justice department officials who worked on the drafting and presentation of the bill.
Members will recall that this bill implements an agreement signed in april 1990 by the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada. The marine park project was launched in 1985, and on June 3, 1988, the governments of Canada and Quebec agreed to meet to discuss the establishment of a marine park in the Saguenay region and they finally agreed on the objectives in 1990.
Both governments conducted public consultations to set the park boundaries definitively. An advisory committee was then set up, bringing together representatives from the following organizations: the affected RCMs, the scientific community, the Union québécoise pour la conservation de la nature and the Coalition pour le parc marin du Saguenay—Saint-Laurent.
This committee was to advise planners about how the project was perceived in the region as well as about the contents of a park development proposal. This committee and the officials representing the ministers concerned by the project were able to bring to light what was involved and the interest of the local people in creating a marine park.
In April 1993, the governments announced what the boundaries of the marine park would be and, at the same time, launched the public consultation process on the development proposal. Within two months, by the end of this second round of consultations, the governments had received 63 briefs, which, following a thorough review, were reported on in December 1993. They had all they needed to draft the marine park management plan, which was published early in 1996.
The establishment of this park is a first for Canada, to the extent that it will be jointly managed by the federal and the provincial governments. The Quebec government will maintain ownership of the seabed and the subsoil resources, while the federal government will continue to exercise its jurisdiction, in particular over navigation and fisheries.
The two governments have agreed to harmonize their involvement and that of their various departments and organizations. They have agreed to share current and future infrastructures, installations and equipment for the marine park.
The two governments have established a harmonization committee made up of four members, that is two for each government. The committee must harmonize Canada and Quebec's initiatives, primarily as regards the following: planning; research; management and programming of activities; consultations with interested individuals and groups; integration of planning and development efforts; terms for the sharing of existing or future infrastructures, installations and equipment; implementation schedule and exchange of personnel; communications and the organization of seminars, symposiums and fairs; protection of aquatic fauna and flora; and, finally, public safety.
On December 12, 1996, the two governments announced the introduction of their respective pieces of legislation on the Saguenay—St. Lawrence marine park, in the Quebec National Assembly and in the House of Commons. On June 5, 1997, Quebec's National Assembly passed Bill 86.
However, since the park will be jointly managed by the federal and provincial governments, the Quebec legislation can only come into effect once the federal bill has been given royal assent. This is why I ask hon. members to pass the bill at third reading today, so as to establish a marine park that will increase the level of protection afforded to ecosystems in part of the Saguenay fjord and in the northern estuary of the St. Lawrence River, for conservation purposes, while also promoting its use for educational, recreational and scientific purposes by current and future generations.
The bill will also help promote local tourism, attract infrastructure spending and result in the creation of permanent jobs in the park.
I am delighted to see that the process is about to be completed.