Canada Federal Election Survey - 2006

This election survey has been sent to five political parties in Canada. (Election day is January 23, 2006.)

New Democratic Party | Conservative Party | Green Party | Liberals | Bloc Quebecois

For details on public policy regarding Manitoba's lands and waters, previous election environment commitments, policy and protected areas mapping, go to our Governments page. Each question has been posed to the political parties based on their campaign to form government in Canada. The survey requests either a Yes or No answer to each question, with comments optional. Please Note: responses from the political parties have not been altered in any way. When a party did not answer a question with a definite Yes or No, " — " was entered.
NOTE - 3 parties have responded (Green Party, NDP and Liberals).

Lands and Water Planning / Use Questions

Q39 Does your government agree that conservation and community based land use plans for the East Side of Lake Winnipeg forest regions should be undertaken prior to decisions regarding land use?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	The NDP is committed to extensive community involvement in all land use and water use planning exercises. We commit to working with the citizens of Manitoba, including the First Nations, and the Government of Manitoba to ensure land and water planning processes are properly resourced and carried out in ways that help improve environmental quality and community well-being.
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal			Yes. However, this is not under sole federal responsibility and requires all-government and stakeholder input.
Bloc

Q40 Will your government commit to providing funds to support conservation based planning for lands on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg in areas where there is federal responsibility? Specifically, will your government;

Q40 - A commit funds to share the cost with the Manitoba government for a transportation system plan for the east side of Lake Winnipeg?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party			Although the Green Party does not have a policy for this specific issue, we would work with the provinces to expand public transportation infrastructure across the country.
Liberal
Bloc

Q40 - B commit funds to support traditional use studies and community planning exercises initiated and directed by First Nation and Aboriginal communities on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal
Bloc

Q40 - C invest in independent climate change studies, specific to the East of Lake Winnipeg boreal forest regions?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal
Bloc

Q40 - D make sure that a fully independent body administers these funds for community conservation based land use planning?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal	—	—	We will ensure accountability and value for money in the administration of any and federal funding.
Bloc

Q41 Will your government, as a party to the Manitoba Northern Flood Agreement (NFA),

Q41 - A ensure that dams in Manitoba not currently subject to an agreement for compensation, in terms of long term land use and environmental impacts, be included in new agreements?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal	—	—	For #41a, b, and c: Canada's major obligations under the NFA have been met by a range of implementation measures, but it remains committed to working with all parties in its remaining shared and ongoing responsibilities - particularly the Employment Task Force, ongoing environmental monitoring and the co-ordination of its existing programs with community plans. An assessment of the "Agenda" process was made by Canada's Chief Federal Representative and tabled in January 2002. It concluded that, while significant NFA implementation benefits have flowed to Cross Lake First Nation over the years, they have been independent of the "Agenda" process, which has not been effective. This assessment, along with options and recommendations were provided to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for review. On October 15, 2002, Canada's funding for the "Agenda" process ended, as planned. To date, representatives of Cross Lake First Nation have not responded to Canada's proposals and no further funding arrangements have been reached for NFA implementation. However, Canada continues to implement, as far as possible, its ongoing obligations under the NFA. It is understood that discussions are continuing between Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba and Cross Lake First Nation respecting their proposals.
Bloc

Q41 - B ensure that if funding and capacity for land use planning, as required under the terms of the NFA, have not being provided, that action will be taken to secure appropriate, funding and capacity?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party	—	—	The question is unclear.
Liberal	—	—	See #41A
Bloc

Q41 - C expect Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro to settle all outstanding compensation, arbitration, and litigations stemming from the dams built in the 1960s and 1970s?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal	—	—	See #41A
Bloc

Q42 Significant federal funding to assist communities in conservation based land use planning for the Mackenzie River Valley was announced in early 2005. Will your government enter into an agreement with the Manitoba government and affected First Nations to provide similar funding for land use planning and protected areas establishment, prior to energy developments, in Manitoba's north?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal			We would be supportive of funding efforts in conservation based land use and ensuring environmental assessments in cooperation with Manitoba and First Nations to establish protected areas prior to energy developments along the Mackenzie River Valley.
Bloc

Q43 Will your government reinstate Resources Access Negotiation (RAN) program funding for Manitoba First Nations (natural resources access, economic development planning, land use options, etc)?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #39 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal	—	—	Funding was provided in fiscal year 2002-2003 through the Resource Access Negotiations Program $1,451,464 (RAN) to assists First Nation communities with negotiations to: access business and employment opportunities in major resource projects; attract investment in on-reserve natural resources; access off-reserve natural resources; and manage off-reserve natural resources. The recent $5.3 billion agreement to close the prosperity gap between aboriginal peoples in Canada and the Canadian average sets a progressive and productive action plan that will further enhance employment and business benefits from resource-based opportunities
Bloc

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