FRESHWATER EXPORTS
Thursday April 5, 2001
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday
in the House, the right hon. Prime Minister talked about water being excluded
from NAFTA. Just days before that, the Minister of the Environment was
expressing his concern about Premier Grimes' plan to export water from Gisborne
Lake in Newfoundland on the grounds that because of NAFTA, this would bind the
rest of the country in a way that he found unacceptable.
I want to ask either the Prime Minister or the Minister of the Environment
to explain this contradiction. The Prime Minister is saying that it is excluded
and the Minister of the Environment is worrying about the NAFTA consequences of
Gisborne Lake. Which is actual government policy when it comes to this
particular issue?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, in the
days of 1993, before signing NAFTA, I definitely know that one of the things my
government demanded from the Americans and the Mexicans was that water should
be excluded from the NAFTA.
It was agreed to by the Americans and by the Mexicans at that time so we
could sign. We had a very important victory in the first week we formed the
government.
FRESHWATER EXPORTS
Friday April 6, 2001
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, yesterday,
in answer to a question from my leader about water exports, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs said:
There will be no removal of bulk water from drainage
systems in Canada.
However, he also clearly said that there was an entirely different category
of water, and that was water entirely within the jurisdiction of the provinces,
such as, for instance, Gisborne Lake in Newfoundland.
Does the Minister of the Environment remain concerned about the proposal to
export water from Gisborne Lake and, if he does, what is the government's plan
with respect to this particular situation? Is there a government plan to
prevent the export of water—
Hon. David Anderson (Minister of the Environment, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
I thank the hon. member for his question. Yes, we do remain concerned about the
export of water from Gisborne Lake and other jurisdictions in Canada. We
believe the best approach is to prevent interbasin transfers of water at source
rather than attempting to deal with it at the border.
I have spoken with Newfoundland's minister of natural resources and have
explained to him the Canadian position. I have followed the media quite
closely. I gather there is substantial opposition within Newfoundland to the
proposal. It may be that this suggestion will not proceed.
