As always I am very impressed by her passion for the topics we discuss in the House of Commons.

I think she presented some good arguments today in support of dividing this bill in two parts so that we can better examine it.

Does she think there is a chance the government will agree to this proposal?

Ève Péclet: Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. I also admire her intelligence and her luminous spirit, which brightens up the House of Commons.

I would like to say that I believe in the Conservatives’ goodwill, that I believe the Minister of Health and Minister for the Arctic Council when she says that they will look after Canada’s north.

I would like to believe that, but unfortunately, we have been quite disappointed over the past two years. That is why it is important for all MPs to rise today to tell the government that enough is enough and we must work together for Canada’s north.

This bill must be split in two. So we must continue to call on the government here in the House to listen to what our democratic institutions want and also what Canadians want.

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Elizabeth May : Mr. Speaker, my comment for the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River is in absolute support of what he has just said.

I had the pleasure, and it was a pleasure, of working for the then Minister of the Environment from 1986 to 1988 and putting legislation forward as part of a majority government, putting forward legislation to committees where we welcomed changes. As an example, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act was put forward without a priority substances list. The idea of a priority substances list came from an opposition member of Parliament on a parliamentary committee for environment. My boss, the Minister of the Environment, Tom McMillan, saw that it would be a benefit and would improve the act. This was a normal occurrence.

Parliamentary committees studying legislation used to be essentially non-politicized zones. We went in there, set our partisanship at the door and worked to make a better bill. I mourn that this is lost now. The comments that the member is making on this specific bill apply to every piece of legislation we have seen go through this House. Every piece of legislation in this place is treated as though accepting a single amendment to any government bill is a political defeat that the administration today will not tolerate. That is an offence to democracy, and I appreciate the member’s mentioning it.

John Rafferty: Speaker, I appreciate the member’s comments. She is absolutely right. That is the feeling that we in the opposition get in committee. We know that these are worthwhile amendments and we wonder why the Conservatives consider that it would be some sort of defeat if they were to accept any of them. Perhaps the Ottawa bubble syndrome causes them to think that for some reason they would lose votes.

I do not know what they are thinking, but the thinking should be that we go through all of the controls to make sure that we come forward with the best legislation possible.

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The committee heard from industry representatives from mining and resource corporations and exploration companies, as well as First Nations representatives from the region. While industry representatives endorsed mineral development in the region, and described a large and profitable resource prime for exploitation, witnesses representing First Nations stressed the importance of respect and collaboration in mine development, in order to ensure that regional First Nations benefit from any projects that go ahead. The failed relationship between Attawapiskat and the De Beer’s Victor Diamond Mine was cited as an example of what regional First Nations do not want to see occurring again.

Relevant news articles:

• http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2012/02/15-gravelle-ring-fire-sudbury.aspx
• http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2012/02/16-kilgour-standing-committee-sudbury.aspx
• http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Around-the-North/120130/Been-there,-done-that,-says-Ring-of-Fire-Coordinator.aspx
• http://netnewsledger.com/2012/02/15/billion-dollar-investment-planned-for-james-bay-region/

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On Monday, December 5^th, the committee heard testimony from representatives of Gem Steel Edmonton Ltd. And Trinity Helicopters.

On Wednesday, December 7^th, the committee heard testimony from Northwatch and Yukon Chamber of Mines.

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