QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Public Safety
Chignecto Isthmus
September 19, 2024
Welcome, Minister LeBlanc. My question is, not surprisingly, touching on the Chignecto Isthmus with respect to Bill S-273, which the Senate overwhelmingly passed in June. My question is not about funding or the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. It’s about federal leadership recognizing the cultural and historic significance of the area for Acadians and First Nations as well as reconciliations with First Nations by taking the lead respecting the duty to consult, not to mention the importance of transportation and movement of cargo that buttresses our economy.
In an interview with the Telegraph-Journal, you said that the province’s reference question before the courts was frivolous. In June, Senator Gold said the government cannot support the bill until the court has clarified the issue of jurisdiction. Which is it? A frivolous court case or a case the government wants settled before it can support the bill?
There is a solution offer by passing Bill S-273. It provides an avenue for the government to decide whether they will step up to the plate and provide the leadership stakeholders want them to assume. Such a decision would provide the clarity that the provinces are seeking and, no doubt, end their court case. Why wouldn’t your government support Bill S-273? Do you not believe Chignecto dike management in your own riding —
Your Honour, through you to Senator Quinn, thank you for the question. Thank you for your work on this important issue. I was very proud on Tuesday of this week to announce an historic investment of $325 million to support the work that the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick want to do in this important area.
I have said publicly — and I have said so to Premier Houston and Premier Higgs — that the reference case to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal is entirely within the purview of the Government of Nova Scotia. I wished they would have put the project out to tender instead of wasting money on lawyers to ask a non-binding question to their court of appeal. I don’t propose to speak for Premier Houston, but we will be happy to work with them to get this work done.
I was reassured by Premier Higgs, who called his election today, that he will accept this money and proceed to do this important work.
I will continue to do what I can to advocate for this project. I understand the issues around the particular bill. I have had a conversation with our Government Representative in this place around that. We’re less interested in questions of jurisdiction. We’re more interested in ensuring that we can support this work as quickly as possible, but we think the provinces also have a responsibility to contribute and we’re hoping they will.
In my question I was staying away from the issue of money and who pays and staying away from the discussions between the feds and provinces about who is paying what, where and when. My question is about jurisdiction. Can the federal government provide that leadership so that we have a consistent approach on things such as consultation with First Nations and protecting the cultural heritage important to the area for First Nations and for our Acadian people?
As our regional minister, why don’t you step up and support the people whom we’ve heard at our committee who say they want the federal government to take on that role?
Senator Quinn, you’re right to raise the issue of consultations with Indigenous communities, supporting the Acadians and noting the significance of the Acadian heritage in this particular site.
I was in Gaspé, Quebec, a year ago and met with a Gaspesian family who talked to me about their roots that go back to Beaubassin, so I totally share that concern.
You have been a senior official on the Treasury Board. When the Government of Canada asserts jurisdiction over something, the bill usually follows. I don’t think we should be naive about that.
We can have a discussion around the jurisdiction. I think there is an obligation to do the consultations; I totally share your view on that. But I think there is an obligation for the provinces also to contribute to this, and that’s what we’re hoping they will do.
