Madam Chair, as my colleague knows, but I think I should share with this House, there are a number of provisions that provide and enable enhanced protection. These include establishing ecologically sensitive areas, such as a critical spawning habitat for salmon or other species, and if any activities are proposed within these areas, proponents would be required to submit plans for review. As my colleague said, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans may then require higher levels of protection for such areas.
Other measures include increased fines and penalties for offences, the creation of enforceable conditions for ministerial authorizations and a duty to notify requirement that states that proponents shall report an occurrence that results in serious harm to these important fisheries.
Our government made these reforms, in 2010 with regard to improvements in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and we have built on those with regard to the responsible resource development legislation that is now before this House.