Environment Committee on May 11th, 2023

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

AER said the investigations were ongoing, and that it would send it after the investigation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I guess AER is not sending it right now.

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

Are we exempting the 1,200-some-page document? I think we need to be fairly explicit. If AER sends us a 1,250-page document, are we not translating and distributing 1,250-page documents, or are we specifically exempting this one 1,250-page document?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We're specifically exempting this one, because it's full of technical information. AER's document will probably deal with communication protocols. It's going to be prose as opposed to statistical tables and what have you. This one is very hard to decipher.

I don't expect the regulators to be as technically dense; let's put it that way. Who knows? Anything is possible.

Mr. Bachrach.

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

Mr. Chair, if I can get inside the mind of entities that provide the committee with documents and briefs at the committee's request, I have a hard time imagining they would envision those remaining confidential.

I would note that when witnesses provide briefs, either to accompany their testimonies, or separately, when they're not able to testify, because perhaps they weren't invited, those briefs, to my knowledge, can be quoted as part of our public reports. We don't ask the people who sent them if they mind if we quote them. They're considered part of the public record.

This is entirely within bounds. I would have a hard time imagining any of the authors having issue with their work becoming public.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

If they did, we could deal with that separately in camera.

Next, we have Mr. Kurek and Madame Pauzé.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Thanks, Chair.

It's been mentioned a few times that the expectation.... Generally, that is certainly the case when witnesses come here. They will sometimes complement their testimonies or provide additional information, whatever the case may be. That information will often end up in a report. Certainly, the standard expectation is that if you're appearing publicly in a committee, that would be public, or at least publicly available.

I would, however, note....Because this greatly contrasts with some of the other studies I've been part of in other committees, particular members of the government have gone to great lengths to ensure that commercially sensitive or family information, or whatever the case may be, is reviewed in a locked room, with no cellphones and the whole deal. There is a wide variety, and often, I would suggest, there are political reasons that drive some of those which could be called “precautions”.

It's certainly something we need to be mindful of, how we approach the different issues to ensure that as we continue to....Whether it's the water study, or whatever else comes along, we were supposed to be.... Originally, we would have been moving to clean tech today. However, I'll just note to this committee that the people who come here have to be able to trust us. As we approach all these things, transparency is absolutely and fundamentally important. I know we've all been on the same page in ensuring that is, in fact, the case. Often, circumstances dictate very different responses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

You have the floor, Ms. Pauzé.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

This is the last time I will speak about this, Mr. Chair.

I have amended my initial version to include “as soon as their translation is completed”. So there is no rush or pressure. That way, the motion is clear, and I would ask that we take it to a vote.

Given that the committee won't reconvene before Monday, I would ask that we take it to a vote now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

There's a request for a vote, so we have to vote. That's dilatory. Is that right?

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

It's not dilatory. You can't call for a vote.

[An hon. member]

You can't call for a vote. It's only when the speaker....

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Go ahead, Mr. Lake.

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

You can ask for a vote.

I have to be gone by 5:30.

I'm looking at this and I'm fine with it. It's going to pass. My expectation is...as Taylor said, I assume that anybody who's spoken would expect their documents to be public.

I think, since we're doing something unusual, rather than just publishing them as soon as translation is completed—which I assume for some of them could be already—it seems to make sense, out of courtesy, to give them notice that it's going to be made public.

I haven't looked at all the documents. If someone had some commercially sensitive reason, they should at least have the opportunity to say to us, “Hey,” so we can have a quick meeting.

Does that make sense?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We'll tell Imperial that this is what we're doing.

As a matter of practice, when other witnesses are before us and we ask if they can send us additional details, we'll try to make it clear that this is going to be public information.

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

That's on this issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That's on anything, actually. It's anything that could be made public.

Is there anyone else on the speaker's list on this side? Are we good.

We'll go to the vote.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Is there a request for a recorded vote, or can it pass with consensus?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Do we require a recorded division?

I don't think so. It seems that everyone agrees to the motion.

Yes, we're unanimous on that.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It's nearly 5:30 p.m. I understand that some members must leave the meeting, even though we have the room until 6 p.m.

Can someone move for adjournment? Yes? All right.

The meeting is adjourned.