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CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 144 Ï NUMBER 070 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 40th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, June 8, 2009 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 4275 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, June 8, 2009 The House met at 11 a.m. Québécois to address Motion M-298 put forward by the hon. member for Labrador. I will take a moment to read it because it is important. It states: Prayers That, in the opinion of the House, the government should work co-operatively with the governments of the territories and of the seven provinces which constitute the Provincial North, and with Aboriginal and local governments in these regions, to PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS develop a strategy to improve transportation and other vital public infrastructure. Ï (1100) I will say right off that, immediately following my remarks, I will [English] be moving an amendment to Motion M-298, which I will explain. I realize, of course, that this amendment will require the consent of the INFRASTRUCTURE mover of the motion, the hon. member for Labrador. I am moving The House resumed from April 27 consideration of the motion. this amendment simply because one has to be very careful in drafting The Speaker: When this matter was last before the House, the a text and introducing it as a motion. hon. member for Newmarket—Aurora had the floor and there were four minutes remaining in the time allotted for her remarks. I The text before us states “the government should work co- therefore call upon the hon. member for Newmarket—Aurora. operatively with the governments of the territories and of the seven Ms. Lois Brown (Newmarket—Aurora, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I provinces which constitute the Provincial North, and with Aboriginal thank the House for the opportunity to speak to the motion brought and local governments in these regions”. The problem is with the forward by the member for Labrador regarding the importance of phrase “with local government in these regions”. Where aboriginal investing in core public infrastructure in Canada's north. people are concerned, the federal government acts as their trustee, and it would automatically be responsible for whatever share is owed During previous debates on this motion, my colleagues high- by aboriginal communities, should these communities encounter lighted significant investments this government has made and financial difficulties. However, the wording of the motion is continues to make in Canada's northern communities. suggesting that local governments would be expected to participate Along with our northern strategy, our government, under the financially, since it talks about developing a strategy cooperatively leadership of the Prime Minister, is delivering an economic action with local governments. These are municipalities and cities. As a plan that will stimulate economic growth in economies from coast to former president of the Union des municipalités du Québec, I cannot coast to coast by creating jobs and supporting Canadian families. support a position that might require local governments to participate financially once all is said and done. I would be much more This government has doubled the gas revenue transfer from $1 comfortable if the words “and local governments in these regions” billion to $2 billion per year, and moved up the first payment from were taken out of the motion. This would prevent local and July 1st to April 1st. This money is in bank accounts of municipal governments from being put in front of a de facto situation municipalities right now so local government can put it to work and having to participate financially. right away. Our government continues to work constructively with our We must not forget that, according the Constitution, municipalities counterparts in the provinces and the territories to get shovels in fall under the jurisdiction of provincial governments. In any the ground as soon as possible. We are getting the job done for all of discussions that might take place, since we are talking about our provinces and for the territories. This money is in the hands of cooperation among the governments of the territories and the seven our municipalities because we believe that putting the money in their provinces, the Government of Quebec would inevitably be called hands is going to create jobs in these places immediately. upon. So, the province itself will undertake discussions with the local municipalities. They could very well be opposed to participat- We are really glad that we can say that we are getting the job done. ing financially, and could tell the Quebec government that since it [Translation] was the one that held talks with the federal government and since it Mr. Mario Laframboise (Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, was the one that spoke about a transportation system in the north, the BQ): Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise on behalf of the Bloc province should be the one to pay, for the benefit of everyone. 4276 COMMONS DEBATES June 8, 2009 Private Members' Business It is difficult to be against the principle of a strategy to improve which, in any case, could force the provinces, territories and transportation and vital public infrastructure in the north. That is why aboriginal communities to contribute financially. I will table an amendment, if the member for Labrador will agree. I am well aware that the sponsor of a motion must consent to an As I said, the federal government has a fiduciary responsibility for amendment so that it can be debated or be put to vote. I hope that the aboriginal communities. Accordingly, if it ever had to ask for money, member is listening, that he hears me, and that he will agree with this it would surely find a way to give money to the communities so they solution. I will obviously try to convince him of the relevance of this could contribute financially. Since the federal government has no amendment. legitimate authority over local governments, it is not up to the government to determine any action, especially since the munici- I will come back to this point. When we say that the government palities come under Quebec's jurisdiction. should work cooperatively with the governments of the territories and of the seven provinces to develop a strategy with aboriginal and Once my amendment is accepted by the hon. member for local governments in these regions, this development could Labrador, I will be pleased to discuss it and support it if our inevitably requirement financial participation. amendment is supported by the majority in this House. At that point, As I was saying, the fact that the aboriginal peoples would be we could then support Motion M-298. involved does not create a problem, since the federal government has a fiduciary responsibility for aboriginal people and their land. If there I would like to present my amendment with the time I have left. were financial needs it would automatically be the federal government that would see to meeting them. This is not up to local I move, seconded by the hon. member for Saint-Bruno—Saint- governments in Quebec, which have their own taxation system. If Hubert, that the motion be amended by deleting all the words “and there were participation, the local governments could be called on to local governments in these regions”. help improve transportation and vital public infrastructure. I believe that this network should be national and should be funded in part by Ï (1110) the federal government and the provinces involved in such talks. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin): It is my duty to Ï (1105) inform hon. members that, pursuant to Standing Order 93(3), no amendment may be proposed to a private members' motion or to the Many of the northern territories are resource rich. They also have motion for second reading of a private members' bill unless the tourism because they are beautiful and people can go there. I sponsor of the item indicates his or her consent. encourage everyone to do so. That being said, they are rich in natural resources that are important for development. Quebec has hydro- [English] electric dams and mining. I think that a public infrastructure and transportation network is critical for the north, but this motion Therefore, I ask the hon. member for Labrador if he consents to presented in the House of Commons should not indirectly oblige the amendment being moved? local governments to participate financially. Mr. Todd Russell (Labrador, Lib.): With respect, no, Mr. We may agree with the principle underlying the motion, but we Speaker. cannot leave the words “with local governments in these regions” in the text. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Barry Devolin): There is no consent. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 93(3) the amendment cannot That bears repeating. Too often, we try to fix problems by be moved at this time. presenting motions like this one. Every word in it is important. The way this motion is written suggests that financial participation will be required because it says “with local governments in these Resuming debate, the hon. member for Edmonton—Strathcona. regions”. That points to shared costs. Ms. Linda Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona, NDP): Mr. I can tell you that local governments in Quebec are not prepared to Speaker, I am rising to speak to the motion tabled by the member talk about financial participation. I want to be perfectly clear about for Labrador. It is a motion of great interest to me due to my long that because, according to the Constitution, municipalities fall under history of work with first nations and other communities in northern the jurisdiction of provinces and territories.

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