Bill C-311

1st Session, 39th Parliament,

55 Elizabeth II, 2006

house of commons of canada

BILL C-311

An Act to amend the National Capital Act (Gatineau Park)

WHEREAS the primary objective of Gatineau Park should be to retain the atmosphere of the Canadian woods and preserve for all time the natural beauty of its lakes, streams and mountains as a source of inspiration to all those who can enjoy it;

WHEREAS Gatineau Park is the only major federal park that is not protected under the Canada National Parks Act and whose boundaries are not established or managed by federal statute;

WHEREAS Gatineau Park is the only major federal park that can have portions of its territory removed with neither the review nor the approval of Parliament;

WHEREAS Gatineau Park should be the possession of all the people of Canada and developed in a manner in which they can take pride;

WHEREAS one of the objects and purposes of the National Capital Commission is to acquire privately owned real properties or provincial properties situated in Gatineau Park;

AND WHEREAS the National Capital Commission has advocated the need to provide statutory protection to the boundaries of Gatineau Park in its 1990 and 2005 Gatineau Park Master Plans;

NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. The long title of the National Capital Act is replaced by the following:

An Act respecting the development and improvement of the National Capital Region and Gatineau Park

2. Section 1 of the Act is replaced by the following:

1. This Act may be cited as the National Capital and Gatineau Park Act.

3. (1) The definition “National Capital Region” in section 2 of the Act is replaced by the following:

“National Capital Region” means the seat of the Government of Canada and its surrounding area, more particularly described in Schedule 1;

(2) Section 2 of the Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:

4. (1) Subsection 10(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

10. (1) The objects and purposes of the Commission are to

(a) prepare plans for and assist in the development, conservation and improvement of the National Capital Region and of Gatineau Park in order that the nature and character of the seat of the Government of Canada may be in accordance with its national significance;

(b) organize, sponsor or promote such public activities and events in the National Capital Region and in Gatineau Park as will enrich the cultural and social fabric of Canada, taking into account the federal character of Canada, the equality of status of the official languages of Canada and the heritage of the people of Canada; and

(2) Paragraphs 10(2)(h) and (h.1) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(h) conduct investigations and researches in connection with the planning of the National Capital Region and of Gatineau Park;

(h.1) subject to any other Act of Parliament, coordinate the policies and programs of the Government of Canada respecting the organ­ization, sponsorship or promotion by departments of public activities and events related to the National Capital Region and Gatineau Park; and

5. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 10:

6. Section 11 of the Act is replaced by the following:

11. The Commission shall, in accordance with general plans prepared under this Act, coordinate the development of public lands in the National Capital Region and in Gatineau Park.

7. Paragraphs 12(1)(a) to (c) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(a) any department proposes to erect, alter, extend or demolish a building or other work on any lands in the National Capital Region or in Gatineau Park,

(b) any person proposes to erect, alter, extend or demolish a building or other work on public lands in the National Capital Region or in Gatineau Park, or

(c) any department or person proposes to change the use of public lands in the National Capital Region or in Gatineau Park,

8. Section 12.1 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

9. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 13:

10. Subsection 20(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

20. (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations

(a) for the protection of any property of the Commission;

(b) for preserving order or preventing accidents on any property of the Commission; and

11. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 22:

12. The schedule to the Act is renumbered as Schedule 1.

13. The Act is amended by adding, after Schedule 1, the schedule set out in the schedule to this Act.

14. Unless the context requires otherwise, the expression “National Capital Act” is replaced by the expression “National Capital and Gatineau Park Act” in

(a) any regulation, as defined in section 2 of the Statutory Instruments Act; and

(b) any other instrument made

(i) in the execution of a power conferred under an Act of Parliament, or

(ii) by order or under the authority of the Governor in Council.