Mr. Speaker, I hate to disappoint the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, but I could not support the bill as written. It would undercut the fundamental principles of the integrity of the national parks system.
When we created Cape Breton Highlands National Park in 1936, the forest licences did not remain. When we created Gwaii Haanas National Park in 1987, the forest licences did not remain.
The idea that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board would still have the ability to approve petroleum activities in and around a national park is deeply disturbing.