Debates of May 14th, 2001

Questions On The Order Paper

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 17 and 29. .[Text]

Question No. 17—

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

With regard to Bow River water quality below Lake Louise, Alberta: ( a ) what are the potential cumulative impacts that development, community development and increased visitor use at Lake Louise may have on Bow River water quality; ( b ) what studies on the potential cumulative impacts are complete, and if not complete, why not; ( c ) what cumulative impact studies include considerations for communities downstream; ( d ) what is the maximum value for effluent loading of the Bow River at Lake Louise and below Lake Louise; ( e ) what are the parameters for aesthetic considerations of Bow River water quality below Lake Louise; ( f ) what are the parameters for “naturally occurring water” and “measurement of” in relation to the Bow River below Lake Louise; ( g ) what is the benchmark for the maximum amount of sewage effluent to discharge for the Bow River at Lake Louise and below Lake Louise; ( h ) what options to reduce effluent volumes to the Bow River below Lake Louise have been comprehensively evaluated; ( i ) based on the cumulative effects of proposed development community development and increased visitor use at Lake Louise, what are the potential adverse impacts on the ecological integrity of the Bow River?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

(a) The potential cumulative impact of development and increased visitor use at Lake Louise is to discharge more wastewater effluent into the Bow River. If this caused an increase in nutrients to this nutrient poor river, it could stimulate the growth of algae and a shift in the diversity and abundance of aquatic insects, with pollution tolerant species displacing more common species, such as mayflies. Fish are not likely to be affected.

(b) Water quality monitoring and aquatic studies of the Bow River, at Lake Louise and elsewhere on the river, have been ongoing since at least 1973. Flow records exist for many decades earlier. Some of the studies, such as thesis research, are of comparatively short duration but very useful in understanding the ecology of the river, possible reaction to effluent and ways to avoid adverse effects. The findings of the recent environmental assessment for the proposed upgrade to the Banff wastewater treatment plant are especially relevant to the Lake Louise situation, as many of the issues are similar.

(c) The studies conducted on the Banff wastewater treatment plant dealt with the issue of cumulative effect for communities downstream from Lake Louise. The environmental screening for the Lake Louise wastewater treatment plant will also address the possible downstream effects of effluent produced at Lake Louise.

(d) The Lake Louise wastewater treatment plant is being designed to meet both federal and provincial criteria for waste treatment plants. In most cases, it will exceed these criteria.

(e) Potential aesthetic concerns are odour and visual impacts. Currently they are not significant. Achieving the effluent standards will address aesthetic concerns.

(f) The parameters for describing naturally occurring waters are standard measurements of the presence and amounts of chemicals, organisms and solids contained in the water column, for example phosphorous, coliform bacteria and suspended solids. These are measured at one location above Lake Louise and three locations downstream from Lake Louise.

(g) There is no benchmark for the quantity of effluent discharged by the Lake Louise wastewater treatment plant and it is not conventional practice to set one. Instead, the performance of a wastewater treatment plant is assessed on the quality of the effluent, the goal being to avoid having a significant adverse effect on the receiving waters. To that end, Parks Canada has established and is working toward leadership targets that exceed all conventional limits of performance for wastewater treatment plants in Alberta.

(h) Key strategies for the area include water conservation, limiting commercial growth and managing human use.

(i) See (a) above. The changes being contemplated for the existing Lake Louise wastewater treatment plant are to improve its capacity and effectiveness to ensure the potential cumulative effect described in (a) does not occur, even if the quantity of effluent discharge does increase as a result of more visitors to Lake Louise.

Question No. 29—

[John Duncan, Canadian Alliance, Vancouver Island North, BC]

With respect to federally built veterans' housing in the greater Vancouver area since 1985: ( a ) how much money has the government spent repairing water related damage; and ( b ) what was the original cost of each such housing project or unit so repaired?

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

With regard to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, I am informed as follows:

The following table provides costs for construction and repairs related to moisture damage for federally built veterans' housing in the greater Vancouver area since 1985.

Veterans Affairs:

Veterans Affairs has not built any veterans housing or paid out any money to repair water damage to federally built veterans' housing in the greater Vancouver area since 1985.

Starred Questions

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Starred Question No. 31.

I would ask that the question and the answer to Starred Question No. 31 be printed in Hansard as read. .[Text]

*Question No. 31—

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

When does the government anticipate finalizing a just and full settlement with the Merchant Navy veterans?

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification)(Francophonie)]

On May 4, 2001, the Minister of Veterans Affairs announced an additional $34.5 million to provide full compensation for qualified Canadian Merchant Navy veterans and their surviving spouses. These funds bring the total monies for Merchant Navy veterans to $104.5 million and ensure that all successful applicants will receive 100% of their eligible payment. The majority of the second payment cheques will be in the mail by the end of May.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Shall the remaining questions stand?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-17, an act to amend the Budget Implementation Act, 1997 and the Financial Administration Act be read the third time and passed, and of the amendment.

Budget Implementation Act, 1997

[The Speaker]

Is the House ready for the question?

[Some hon. members]

Question.

[The Speaker]

The question is on the amendment. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker]

All those in favour of the amendment will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker]

In my opinion the nays have it.

And more than five members having risen:

[The Speaker]

Call in the members.

And the bells having rung:

[The Speaker]

The division on the amendment will be deferred until the conclusion of government orders later this day.

The House resumed consideration of Bill C-26, an act to amend the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act and the Income Tax Act in respect of tobacco, as reported (with amendment) from the committee.