• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 140 Ï NUMBER 033 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 38th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Friday, November 26, 2004 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire´´ at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1959 HOUSE OF COMMONS Friday, November 26, 2004 The House met at 10 a.m. supervision of the historic places policy group, that group and its responsibilities, was transferred from the Department of Canadian Heritage to Parks Canada. Second, the powers, duties and functions related to the design and implementation of the program that had Prayers built heritage as their primary subject matter were transferred from the Minister of Canadian Heritage to the Minister of the Environment. GOVERNMENT ORDERS Bill C-7, as I have indicated, will update the legislation to reflect Ï (1000) these directions and these responsibilities. [English] DEPARTMENT OF CANADIAN HERITAGE ACT The bill deals with the machinery of government and does not contain any substantive policy provisions. It simply gives legislative The House resumed from November 24 consideration of the effect to the direction that the government reorganization was taking, motion that Bill C-7, an act to amend the Department of Canadian as announced on December 2003, in particular as it affects Parks Heritage Act and the Parks Canada Agency Act and to make related Canada. amendments to other Acts, be read the third time and passed. Mr. Alan Tonks (York South—Weston, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am delighted this morning to rise on Bill C-7. The bill is in fact a In addition to amending the Department of Canadian Heritage Act reaffirmation of the government's absolute desire and commitment and the Parks Canada Agency Act, Bill C-7 also amends statutes not only to review the responsibilities associated with our natural through which Parks Canada delivers its mandate: the Canada heritage with respect to our parks and historic designations within National Parks Act; the Historic Sites and Monuments Act; the our parks and natural environment, but also to make sure of the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act; the Canada National continuity required with respect to our built history, to make sure that Marine Conservation Areas Act; the Saguenay—St. Lawrence there is a very clear delineation of responsibility with respect to Marine Park Act; the Species at Risk Act; and the Canada Shipping maintaining what Canadians have a right to. Their natural and their Act. All of these are associated statutes that are implicated by this built heritage should be protected, administered and managed in transfer. But there are no additional funding requirements related to manner that is in keeping with the high degree of responsibility we Bill C-7, as the jurisdictional responsibilities with respect to funding, all feel for our heritage. works and associated initiatives obviously are within the budgets of the relevant departments. As members will know, then, the bill is an act to amend the Department of Canadian Heritage Act and the Parks Canada Agency Ï (1005) Act and to make related amendments to other acts. As I said, it will delineate responsibilities. Parks Canada's organizational integrity has been maintained. The The thrust of my comments today will be about the action plan on Parks Canada agency remains committed to working with Canadians establishing new national parks and national marine conservation to protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada's areas within the context of the bill, two subjects which members natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations. have said from time to time are issues they really want to get into. I think it would be an understatement to say that the examples of I will give members a little history. On December 12, the control that unique heritage, which in fact is a reflection of the various and supervision of the Parks Canada Agency was transferred from cycles of immigration and our first nations and aboriginal peoples the Minister of Canadian Heritage to the Minister of the and so on, are top of mind with respect to our heritage. Environment. This transfer was given effect through an order in council. I would like to take a few moments to talk about the Parks Canada On July 20, 2004, another order in council came into effect story. I think it is a global best practice. It is a story that is worth relating to responsibilities for our built heritage. It was required in repeating often in order for us to have a sense of just how absolutely order to clarify the earlier order in council. First, control and spectacular this country is in terms of its natural heritage. 1960 COMMONS DEBATES November 26, 2004 Government Orders I am sure that from the House's perspective Canada's national by almost 50%, with the total area spanning nearly the size of parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas Newfoundland and Labrador. We have already created two of these are somewhat akin to the soul of our country. They are a central part 10 new national parks with work continuing on eight other of who we are and what we are and in fact what we want to be. It is proposals. Five new national marine conservation areas will also what we signal to the world that is so important with respect to the be created. preservation and the stewardship of the natural heritage we enjoy. Ï (1010) These places are obviously places of wonder and awe for those Canadians who have travelled from coast to coast to coast. I happen Canada is blessed with exceptional natural treasures. We owe it to to be one of them. I am never above and beyond being totally Canadians and to the world to protect these lands and waters. The impressed with what God has given us as a natural environment. It is action plan calls on Parks Canada to work with all of its partners, the just so absolutely awesome, even in the global context. provinces and territories, aboriginal and rural communities, industry, environmental groups, labour and all others, to complete this effort. Each of those places also tells its own story because the people who live in those areas have a special kinship with respect to their In March 2003 the government allocated $144 million over five natural heritage and their built heritage. In fact, it is a reflection of a years and $29 million annually thereafter toward this effort. very regional kinship that people have with their own immediate environment. It is one that they wish to share with all Canadians and The action plan has already produced two national parks. The new in fact with the world. It is unique. That natural environment, our Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada protects 33 square built environment, is also a reflection of the mosaic that we refer to kilometres of ecologically rare land in the southern Gulf Islands of as Canada. British Columbia. What we cherish as part of our national identity, we also recognize At over 20,000 square kilometres the new Ukkusiksalik National as part of our national responsibility. If we feel so strongly on the Park of Canada protects virtually an entire watershed close to the one hand how special our heritage is, then equally we have to rise to Arctic Circle in Nunavut. the challenge in terms of our accountability to nurture and preserve it. As we speak, the whole issue of ecological balance is being All Canadians share the responsibility to preserve and protect discussed. We have had the recent Arctic report out of Iceland and a Canada's unique cultural and natural heritage. Together, we hold our conference is going on with respect to countries that have national parks, our national historic sites and our national marine responsibility for the Arctic. Our mandate is to be accountable to conservation areas in trust for the benefit of this and future preserving the Arctic. We all know there are huge challenges with generations. respect to global warming and the Arctic. Canada has the distinction of having established the first national Other parallel concerns are being expressed through reports that park service in the world. Over the decades, our system of national will be coming to the House. As a matter of fact, there will be a parks has grown to 41 national parks and reserves, preserving for report today with respect to water quality in some of our natural future generations almost 265,000 square kilometres of lands and areas, one of which is the Great Lakes Basin, that will be a parallel waters. There are plans to add an additional 100,000 square effort in an attempt to make sure that these natural areas are kilometres through the creation of eight more national parks. This protected, the latter being water quality. legacy is possible in large part because provincial and territorial governments, aboriginal and first nations people and local commu- The Ukkusiksalik Park is a product of an agreement between the nities have worked with us to create many of these new national Government of Canada and the Inuit of Nunavut forged over several parks. decades of hard work, all focused on protecting land, water, caribou and polar bears for present and future generations. The creation and management of national parks is a delicate balance between protection of ecologically significant areas of Specific sites for more national parks will be selected in other importance to wildlife and meeting economic and social needs of natural regions across Canada, the southern Okanagan; the lower communities.

Load more

  90

Copy Link