Environment committee  Yes, we can do that. There are some really excellent examples, and we'll send some along.

Environment committee  It's a higher percentage, but yes, the idea is accurate.

Environment committee  I'll ask Matt to comment on that, but will say that part of our challenge in harmonization is that we have all the different jurisdictions at the provincial-territorial level. Finding national harmony is a challenge. We've certainly had discussions about how to streamline and make this more effective.

Environment committee  Thank you very much for having us today. FCM is really pleased to welcome this opportunity to bring Canada's local government voice to your study. As you mentioned, I'm here with Matt Gemmel, policy manager in our policy shop. When we get to questions, he may have some technical comments to make.

Environment committee  As I said in my comments, the question about the definition of “minor works” and “major works” in this, right now, kind of mushy middle, with the act applying to non-scheduled waters in a way that's not clearly defined is a challenge for the municipalities. As I said, we're looking for a clearer definition of the minor works order particularly, as a way of ensuring that there's an appropriate balance of environmental protection, navigable water protection, and the opportunity for small projects to go ahead in an appropriate way.

Environment committee  We think it's a step in the right direction. There's work to be done, improvements to be made that we've identified in the comments today and in the submissions that we've made. I think I said there were nine submissions over the life of this consultation process.

Environment committee  I think we're fairly clear that the municipalities have a bylaw-making capacity and that that bylaw capacity needs to be respected within the constraints of the Constitution as it exists. To your first point, we believe that municipalities need to be identified separate from a public consultation process generally, so that municipalities are considered orders of government that are involved in a unique way in the consultation mechanisms.

Environment committee  We're recommending some changes so that the timeliness of the review process is appropriate. As we say, in some instances we think the timelines need to be defined and adhered to so that we don't end up with endless delays. When we look at the National Energy Board work and the pipelines, we think there's a project-by-project need for review of timelines, because of the complexity and the size of these projects.

Environment committee  We don't really have a position on that.

Environment committee  Three thousand of my closest friends.

Environment committee  As I said in my comments, the fact that we have this middle ground that captures undefined structure between minor and major works, if the act doesn't change, means there will be more municipal projects under review than if we did not review the definition of the minor works order.

Environment committee  Potentially.

Environment committee  Within the limits of the Constitution, yes.

Environment committee  No, I wouldn't agree with that, not that I disagree with meaningful public consultation. I agree with meaningful public consultation. What I don't agree with is lumping municipal government into something as generic as public participation. Municipal governments are governments and thus our comments are to single out municipalities as unique creatures or features of any kind of consultation process.

Environment committee  Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Thank you for receiving us today. I look around the room and I see friends and colleagues whom I've worked with over many years. It's nice to see you, nice to engage in this conversation. It's so important. FCM certainly welcomes this opportunity to bring Canada's municipal voice to your review of Bill C-69.