Mr. Chair, I would like my colleague to ask the last part of that question again, just so I can respond precisely to it.
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Business of Supply May 16th, 2012
Mr. Chair, I would like my colleague to ask the last part of that question again, just so I can respond precisely to it.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2012
Mr. Chair, as I have explained to colleagues opposite any number of times this evening, under CEAA 2012, the responsible resource development legislation, we are committed to improve, expand and increase assistance funding to ensure that our constitutional obligations to consult with first nations are fully and properly met.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2012
Mr. Chair, I can. I do not have that list at hand, but I have had any number of meetings in recent months with various first nations, both at the gathering on Sussex Drive, which was held so successfully just a couple of months ago, and with the grand chief most recently. I have met with representatives of various first nations bands in Ottawa, Gatineau and various locations across the country.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2012
Mr. Chair, I have here something with which my colleague should be familiar.
The Environment Commissioner was asked, “Did I hear correctly that inventory data was not reflected in your report that dealt with 2010 emissions?” The Environment Commissioner answered, “Correct. Just to be clear, there is a lag between when the year and when Environment Canada takes to compile all the data and then release it.”
So the Environment Commissioner has been very gracious in his acknowledgement that his report is based on significantly dated data.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2012
Mr. Chair, with regard to my colleague's preamble, she was wrong on each and every count.
With regard to the report by the Environment Commissioner, we endeavoured to assist him in updating his figures with respect to climate change. His report makes it quite clear that his terms and points of reference were a full year out of date.
While we do accept the compliments that were scattered through the Environment Commissioner's report, although they seem to have been overlooked by colleagues on the other side of the House, with regard to the federal contaminated sites program, I understand the commissioner has since agreed that he did not understand or did not have a full grasp of the parameters of the federal program.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2012
Mr. Chair, I can assure my colleague that I share his dream of making the Rouge near urban national park yet another jewel in the string of parks, many of them quite different from our first parks in Banff and Jasper or our newest designated park, Sable Island off Nova Scotia.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2012
Mr. Chair, my colleague accurately described the current process. At the moment we are in the midst of consolidating land from the various title holders, be they municipal, provincial or federal, and the next process we are about to begin is public consultations. We will work to finalize the eventual boundaries of the Rouge Park.
With regard to capital and operating costs, I can assure my colleague that we will be presenting our initial estimates for the House's consideration in the very near future.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from Wellington—Halton Hills for carrying the torch in the House with regard to the dream of an urban park, the dream of the Rouge Park Alliance to have this magnificent park within the limits of the greater Toronto area.
I would just like to remind the House that when Parliament passed the Parks Canada Agency Act, it directed Parks Canada to include representative examples of Canada's land and marine natural regions and systems of national parks and national marine conservation areas.
In 2006, Parks Canada's protected areas network was approximately 277,000 square kilometres. Since 2006, this government has taken actions that will protect an additional 150,000 square kilometres. This brings Parks Canada's protected areas network to 427,000 square kilometres, which represents a 54% increase. I would advise the House that we are not stopping here.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Mr. Chair, I can only say that Environment Canada has ultimate responsibility for environmental considerations across the country, including the provinces, the territories, federal lands and first nations lands. We exercise that authority in very close and considerate consultation with the first nations and we will continue to do so in the future.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2012
Mr. Chair, when the CEAA 2012 comes into effect, the procedures and processes will be transitioned, and they will develop according to the specific legislation.