Environment Committee on May 4th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We'll have plenty of time, frankly. That seems reasonable to me.

I believe we have goodwill on all sides and that's the strength of the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Does it please the members to vote on Ms. Pauzé's motion as amended?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Are we voting on the motion as amended or on the amendment?

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Can I ask for a point of clarification from the clerk?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Let's do the amendment first and then the motion.

You're right. I'm sorry.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Can I ask for a point of clarification from the clerk?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Does this amendment reflect the intent of the subcommittee?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes, it totally does.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'm seeing nodding from the clerk and nodding from the chair.

I ask because I'm hearing it being construed as some kind of closure. That's not the intention. The intention is—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We agreed to that in the subcommittee.

We're voting on Madam Pauzé's amendment first.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Now we'll vote on the motion as amended.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Technically, we should debate the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We can if you want to, but I would take that as....

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

No, we're going to vote. We're going to get to a vote today. I just—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We have some goodwill here. Let's not spoil it.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

We did vote against this, and we're voting against the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It's okay. I know that in your heart you're fine with it.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

I do think it's important, though. There's been the insinuation that this is somehow...six weeks we've dragged this out for. Just to be clear, this study started over 400 days ago, way, way before any of us on this side were on the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We're looking forward. We're forgetting about the six weeks.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Chair, no, no. I just want to make that point, because the point was made pretty forcefully over there. I think the last meeting when we heard witnesses was 364 days ago. It's just important that we're talking about this on the record because it's been in public.

We're going to vote. We'll have one more meeting, which is—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Before we go to the recommendations.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

—still unusual. However, I just want to point out that the committee itself, far before any of us were a part of it, decided to delay, delay, delay the adoption of this report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Well, we had legislation. There was a lot of stuff going on.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Yes, and other studies.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes.

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])