Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague will agree with me that I am not the greatest expert on this bill. What I understand is what I read.
This issue of expropriation is not mentioned. However, it is clearly stipulated that the schedule cannot include the names of marines areas. Clause 5(2) reads as follows “An amendment to Schedule 1 may be made only if the Governor in Council is satisfied that clear title to the lands to be included in the marine conservation area is vested in Her Majesty in right of Canada—”
This can be interpreted to mean that the federal government is reserving the right to force any province to transfer an area in the river, the gulf or the estuary. Otherwise, the area in question could not be included as part of the action taken to comply with the international agreement.
There is something in that logic that does not ring true. As I said, it does sound arrogant and even somewhat mean, because we have made our support for compliance with this international agreement known. However, we will not be able to support it if we have to give up the title to some areas, which is something we do not have the authority to do, anyway. Quebec does not have the right to transfer these titles to the Canadian government.
Once again, this is a very strange piece of legislation, which is why we are asking the minister to withdraw the bill and allow the committee to reconsider the issue.