Bill C-522

2nd Session, 39th Parliament,

56-57 Elizabeth II, 2007-2008

house of commons of canada

BILL C-522

An Act to establish a National Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission and to re-establish the Survey on the Importance of Nature to Canadians

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

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the National Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission Act.

INTERPRETATION

2. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Commission” means the National Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission established under section 3.

“Minister” means the Minister of the Environment.

ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION

3. (1) The Minister shall establish a Commission to be known as the National Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission, the members of which shall be appointed by the Minister in accordance with subsection (2).

(2) The Commission shall consist of up to twenty members and the Minister shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the Commission’s membership

(a) reflects a broad range of scientific and technical disciplines related to the protection of the environment; and

(b) reflects the interests of the public, aboriginal peoples and hunting, angling, fishing and environmental stakeholders.

(3) The members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and deputy chairperson from among its members.

(4) The members of the Commission shall not be paid remuneration or expenses.

4. (1) The Commission shall make recommendations with respect to

(a) the promotion of practices that will lead future generations to value recreational hunting and fishing;

(b) the promotion of public participation in fish and wildlife conservation programs;

(c) the promotion of youth participation activities related to fish and wildlife, including hunting, fishing and conservation;

(d) the promotion of tourism related to fish and wildlife, including hunting and fishing;

(e) the promotion of new opportunities for activities related to fish and wildlife, including hunting and fishing;

(f) the protection of Canada’s natural resources from the introduction of species that are harmful or capable of causing harm to fish or wildlife; and

(g) any other matter referred to the Commission by the Minister.

(2) In making its recommendations under subsection (1), the Commission shall be guided by the principle that natural resources are to be protected, used and managed so as to supply benefits at optimal sustainable levels for present and future generations of Canadians.

ABORIGINAL RIGHTS

5. For greater certainty, nothing in this Act shall be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from the application of section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 to existing aboriginal or treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada.

ANNUAL REPORT

6. (1) The Commission shall, not later than April 1 in every year, prepare and submit to the Minister a report containing its recommendations.

(2) The Minister shall cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the Minister receives the report.

SURVEY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE TO CANADIANS

7. (1) The Commission shall work in conjunction with the appropriate departments and agencies of the Government of Canada and the governments of the provinces and territories to re-establish the Survey on the Importance of Nature to Canadians.

(2) The survey shall be completed within two years after the coming into force of this section and every five years thereafter.

(3) The Minister shall cause the results of the survey to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the Minister receives the results.

(4) The results referred to in subsection (3) shall be reviewed by such committee of the Senate, the House of Commons or both Houses of Parliament as may be designated or established for that purpose.

(5) The committee referred to in subsection (4) shall, within six months after a review is undertaken pursuant to that subsection or within such further time as may be authorized by the Senate, the House of Commons or both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, present its report on the review.