Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to have an exchange with my colleague from Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques.
Yes indeed, and that is what I was saying in my speech. Those who know the Environmental Assessment Act also know about the role of the BAPE, an agency independent from the government, independent from the parties concerned when there are public consultations.
I was extremely disappointed when I started getting involved in what was happening to my fellow citizens living in the axis of Moreau, Wurtele and Préfontaine streets, and I found out there was no mechanism to bring CP to order with regard to the railroad going through this residential area. That is not a minor issue.
As you may well imagine, when CP decides not to abide by a rule, it has its own lawyers. When CP decides to be a bad corporate citizen, people have no recourse. It would take an independent authority to keep that corporation in line.
Under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, contrary to the Quebec one, it is the federal government that triggers the inquiry and receives the report. It is judge and defendant, and obviously that takes away from the efficiency of a very much needed act, providing jurisdictions are respected. In Quebec, every level of government asked that the Quebec act take precedence.