Good morning. Clément Gignac, from Quebec.

[English]

Welcome to the witnesses. First of all, I’d like to thank my colleague Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne for raising the subject of Mingan Islands Park, which I know well, having visited it several times in recent years with my friends and close family in Havre-Saint-Pierre. Your answers have reassured me in this regard.

I will now put on my hat as an economist and member of the National Finance Committee. The bill will significantly increase the size of at least 2 of the 10 parks. I’d like to know what the budgetary consequences will be. What is the size of the budget envelope?

We have a bill before us, but there must be financial consequences and costs attached to it that will follow afterwards, because there are obviously negotiations. What can we expect, from a financial point of view, in terms of the provisions of this bill?

All right. How does this work? I understand that the procedure to follow and the factors to consider vary from park to park. I’m trying to understand how you determine what you need to protect and the different criteria you rely on. Do these criteria vary from park to park?

You explained the situation for the Mingan Islands. We’re talking mainly about two large parks, one in the Northwest Territories, Tuktut Nogait National Park, and the other in Saskatchewan. What led you to significantly expand these two parks? What were the reasons?

Can you elaborate?

I’m now going to put on my hat as Quebec’s former minister of economic development and the person responsible for Plan Nord. We had to expand protected areas and negotiations were a little tougher with the forest industry.

Were there any issues in any of the 10 parks? Did you have to negotiate with the forest industry? If so, what was their attitude?

Thank you.

[English]