Bill C-647

2nd Session, 41st Parliament,

62-63 Elizabeth II, 2013-2014

house of commons of canada

BILL C-647

An Act to expand the object of the federal regional development agencies

Her Majesty, by and with and 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 Expanding the Object of Federal Regional Development Agencies Act.

FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SOUTHERN ONTARIO

2. The Minister of Industry shall review the object of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario with a view to adding the following elements:

(a) the promotion of sustainable development;

(b) environmental protection; and

(c) the promotion of the social and cultural affairs that are within the legislative authority of Parliament.

3. The Minister must ensure that the object of the Agency is fulfilled by working with the communities, municipalities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations of Southern Ontario.

CANADIAN NORTHERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

4. The Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency shall review its object with a view to adding the following elements:

(a) the promotion of sustainable development;

(b) environmental protection; and

(c) the promotion of the social and cultural affairs that are within the legislative authority of Parliament.

5. The Minister must ensure that the object of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency is fulfilled by working with the communities, municipalities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations of Northern Canada.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF CANADA FOR THE REGIONS OF QUEBEC ACT

6. Subsection 10(1) of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec Act is replaced by the following:

10. (1) The object of the Agency is to work with the communities, municipalities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations of Quebec in order to

(a) promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent or where opportunities for productive employment are inadequate;

7. Paragraph 11(b) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” after subparagraph (iii), and by adding the following after subparagraph (iv):

ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY ACT

8. Section 12 of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Act is replaced by the following:

12. The object of the Agency is to work with the communities, municipalities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations of Atlantic Canada in order to

(a) support and promote opportunity for economic development of Atlantic Canada, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises, through policy, program and project development and implementation and through advocacy of the interests of Atlantic Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation;

9. Paragraph 13(b) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” after subparagraph (ii), and by adding the following after sub-paragraph (iii):

WESTERN ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ACT

10. Paragraph 5(2)(b) of the Western Economic Diversification Act is replaced by the following:

(b) lead and coordinate the efforts of the Government of Canada to establish cooperative relationships with the provinces constituting Western Canada, and with business, labour, not-for-profit and other public and private organizations, for the development and diversification of the economy of West-ern Canada;

11. Subsection 5(2) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” after paragraph (b), by adding “and” after paragraph (c) and by adding the following after paragraph (c):