Evidence of meeting #2 for Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was environmental.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jayson Myers  President and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters - Ontario Division
Christopher Smillie  Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Canadian Office
David Collyer  President, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Denise Carpenter  President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Nuclear Association
Terry Rees  Executive Director, Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations
Peter Meisenheimer  Executive Director, Ontario Commercial Fisheries' Association
Ward Prystay  Principal, Environmental Services, Stantec Consulting Ltd., Canadian Construction Association
Pierre Gratton  President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of Canada
Ray Orb  Vice-President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

10:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

So it's okay now that you're happy but other groups aren't. Is that right?

10:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of Canada

Pierre Gratton

No. I would suggest that the problems that have existed with the Environmental Assessment Act have to do with the lack of clarity around process. A better-run process, if implemented well—and I'll grant you that this will have to be implemented well, and I'm not going to say that the federal government—

10:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

You don't have any guarantee that's going to happen.

10:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of Canada

Pierre Gratton

—has consistently implemented things well, but if they implement these processes well under the new legislation, it should make things better on the ground. It may actually reduce litigation and conflict—

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins

Ms. Rempel, on a point of order.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Centre-North, AB

You know, perhaps my colleague opposite would have more luck in his line of questioning if he clarified what he meant by “Are you happy?” Perhaps that's the hundreds of thousands of workers known across the country that are represented by the people here—

10:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

This is just foolishness.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Centre-North, AB

Perhaps that would allow the witnesses more clarity to answer.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins

I think members have an opportunity through their own lines of questioning to make those points.

But, Mr. Chisholm, I do believe Mr. Orb indicated that he wanted to address your original question.

10:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

That'd be great.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins

Mr. Orb.

10:35 p.m.

Vice-President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

Ray Orb

The question you ask is a tough one. This is a huge bill. There are some things in this bill that our organization wanted to be brought in a long time ago.

There's reference also in this bill to navigable waters, and if you're familiar with that legislation, it's around 120 years old. It has to do with canoes travelling down waterways. It's obsolete; it needs to be revised.

10:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Have you had a chance to examine what they've done to it?

10:35 p.m.

Vice-President, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities

Ray Orb

It actually hasn't gone far enough. From our point of view, we would like to go back, and I think maybe this fall we'll get a chance to talk to the government about that. But you've touched on a question that's general.

Generally, I could answer that every person in this country can talk to their MP about this, if they're not happy with the bill. Or if there are things in the bill that they're happy about, well, that's fine too. I think that's how we operate as Canadians .

10:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Thank you, Mr. Orb.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins

Thank you.

10:35 p.m.

NDP

Robert Chisholm NDP Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

I do have a specific question.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins

And you're specifically out of time.

Mr. Storseth, five minutes, please.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Prystay, your organization represents how many Canadian workers? How many Canadian workers would be affected?

10:35 p.m.

Principal, Environmental Services, Stantec Consulting Ltd., Canadian Construction Association

Ward Prystay

There are 17,000 members within CCA, and it employs approximately one and a quarter million Canadians.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB

Mr. Gratton.

10:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of Canada

Pierre Gratton

How many—?

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB

How many Canadians are affected by your industry?

10:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Mining Association of Canada

Pierre Gratton

We employ over 300,000 workers.

10:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB

Mr. Orb, how many employees would there be through the SARM, Saskatchewan rural municipalities?