TRAN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met in camera at 11:07 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Merv Tweed, presiding.

The Chair presented the Sixth Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

1. That the Committee’s agenda in November 2010 focus on legislation, and that meetings on any other subject be scheduled as extra meetings.

2. That the bills be considered in the following order, and that the Committee complete each bill before proceeding to the next:

1) C-20, An Act to amend the National Capital Act and other Acts;

2) C-42, Strengthening Aviation Security Act; and

3) C-511, Proactive Enforcement and Defect Accountability Legislation Act (PEDAL).

3. That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure meet again at the end of November to plan the Committee’s agenda for December 2010.

4. That in relation to its study of high speed rail, the Committee schedule its site visit to Bombardier in La Pocatière, Quebec, for Monday, November 22, 2010.

It was agreed, — That the report of the Subcommittee be concurred in.

The Committee proceeded to sit in public.

By unanimous consent, Michel Guimond gave notice of the following motion:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee study the consequences of noise caused by airport operations in urban areas and that it report its observations and recommendations to the House.

The witness answered questions.

The Committee resumed its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

On Clause 11,

(a) replacing, in the English version, line 21 on page 6 with the following:

“including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as part of any project”

(b) replacing, in the French version, line 24 on page 6 with the following:

“(ii) ces projets touchent un bâtiment désigné”

(c) replacing, in the English version, lines 29 to 37 on page 6 with the following:

“plates the right of Her Majesty or a department to occupy that building or other work for a term of more than 25 years, including under a lease, and if, under that transaction, the building or other work becomes, or may become, public lands — other than under a lease — and if the building or other work is iconic or is not intended for general office space;”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Richard Nadeau and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 9.

Clause 11, as amended, carried.

On Clause 13,

“acquisition, in Gatineau Park, of any immovable or right in it or the”

At 11:17 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:20 a.m., the sitting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Richard Nadeau and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 9.

“Act, any”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Richard Nadeau and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 9.

“(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Commission may not acquire any immovable or right in it or the rights of a lessee under subsection (1) if that immovable or right is the property of the Province of Quebec or of the municipality concerned.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Richard Nadeau and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 9.

“SALE OR DISPOSAL OF LAND IN GATINEAU PARK

14.1 (1) No person shall sell or otherwise dispose of an immovable situated in Gatineau Park, or right in it or the rights of a lessee, to anyone other than the Commission unless the person has given the right of first refusal to the Commission by submitting to the Commission an unconditional offer for sale of the property at fair market value, determined by an independent appraisal, and

(a) the person has received written confirmation from the Commission that it declines the offer; or

(b) the Commission has not accepted the offer within 60 days after receiving it.

(2) Any purported sale or disposition of immovables in contravention of subsection (1) is null and void.

(3) This section does not apply to the sale or disposition of immovables pursuant to a contract in writing entered into before this section comes into force.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Richard Nadeau and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 9.

Clause 13 carried.

Clause 15 carried.

On Clause 19,

“22.1 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), the Governor in Council may, by order, add a description to, or amend a description in, any of Schedules 1 to 2.1.

(2) Before an order is made in respect of Schedule 2 or 2.1, the order that is proposed to be made shall be laid before each House of Parliament.

(3) An order may not be made in respect of Schedule 2 or 2.1 before the earlier of

(a) 30 sitting days after the proposed order is laid before each House of Parliament, and

(b) 160 calendar days after the proposed order is laid before each House of Parliament.

(4) A proposed order that has been laid before each House of Parliament need not be laid before each House again before the order is made, regardless of whether it has been altered.

(5) The Commission shall provide the Governor in Council with a description of the boundaries of the Greenbelt within five years after the day on which this subsection comes into force.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

Clause 19, as amended, carried.

On New Clause 20.1,

Brian Jean moved, — That Bill C-20 be amended by adding after line 25 on page 10 the following new clause:

“20.1 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 25:

26. The annual report that the Commission is required to submit under section 150 of the Financial Administration Act must include information respecting the Commission’s activities with regard to Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt, including the acquisition by the Commission of real property located in the Greenbelt or an immovable located in Gatineau Park.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 2.

On Schedule 1,

Brian Jean moved, — That Bill C-20, in the schedule, be amended by adding, after the Schedule 2 set out in the schedule, on page 36, the following :

“SCHEDULE 2.1 (Sections 2 and 22.1)

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GREENBELT”

Schedule 1, as amended, carried.

Schedule 2 carried.

Schedule 3 carried.

The Preamble carried.

The Short Title carried.

The Title carried.

The Bill, as amended, carried.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-20, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.

At 12:13 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.