Environment Committee on Nov. 1st, 2011

Evidence of meeting #8 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was environmental.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

  • John Bennett  Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada
  • Jennifer Jackson  Executive Director, Canadian Water and Wastewater Association
  • Sandra Schwartz  Vice-President, Policy Advocacy, Canadian Electricity Association
  • Terry Toner  Representative, Canadian Electricity Association, and Director, Environmental Services, Nova Scotia Power Inc.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Kitchener Centre, ON

All right.

By the way, do you know how many employees your sector has?

11:40 a.m.

Executive Director, Canadian Water and Wastewater Association

Jennifer Jackson

No, I don't.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Kitchener Centre, ON

Ms. Schwartz, do you know how many employees there are in your sector, the people you represent?

11:40 a.m.

Vice-President, Policy Advocacy, Canadian Electricity Association

Sandra Schwartz

I'm looking to my colleague over here to answer that question.

It's hundreds of thousands. Thank you, John.

One point I do want to make on the cost side—it is important in our sector, and I think probably Ms. Jackson would echo this in the municipal waste water sector as well—is that the costs are ultimately borne by the ratepayer. These are not necessarily costs that are borne by companies themselves. Although initially they are, they are still--

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Kitchener Centre, ON

They're passed on.

11:40 a.m.

Vice-President, Policy Advocacy, Canadian Electricity Association

Sandra Schwartz

They're passed on with increased electricity rates.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Kitchener Centre, ON

Thank you.

Do I have any time left, Mr.Chair?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Mark Warawa

You have about 45 seconds.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Stephen Woodworth Kitchener Centre, ON

In that case, I'll just defer to the next speaker.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Mark Warawa

Thank you.

The next speaker is Madame St-Denis.

You have seven minutes.

November 1st, 2011 / 11:40 a.m.

NDP

Lise St-Denis Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC

My first question is for Mr. Bennett.

Could environmental rights be included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, for instance in conjunction with other explicit human rights such as the right to life and personal security?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Calgary Centre-North, AB

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Mark Warawa

Ms. Rempel, on a point of order.

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Calgary Centre-North, AB

What is the relevancy to the scope of the study?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Mark Warawa

I would encourage Madame St-Denis to ensure that the questions are germane to the discussion and the review of the CEAA.

Thank you.