Could I just clarify...?
Evidence of meeting #39 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was amendment.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #39 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was amendment.
A video is available from Parliament.
6:25 p.m.
Director General, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
Could I just clarify...?
6:25 p.m.
Director General, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
It has been done for pest control products.
6:25 p.m.
Director General, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
Correct.
6:25 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
—there has been an.... Can you remind me of the acronym again? It's the regulatory impact—
6:25 p.m.
Director General, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
It's a RIAS, a regulatory impact assessment statement.
6:25 p.m.
Director General, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
I don't have it with me.
6:25 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Okay. Maybe perhaps later...?
I apologize, Chair, and through you to the witnesses. Part of the reason we're asking some of the more fundamental questions about this and other aspects of the bill is that we haven't had time to study it. We've been under time allocation on this, which means that whole broad sections have just not been studied, and we've not heard from witnesses, and that's unfortunate.
Thank you.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
6:25 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
On division.
(Clauses 110 to 113 agreed to on division)
(On clause 114)
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
We'll move to clause 114. We have two amendments.
First of all, we have amendment LIB-14. We'll welcome Mr. McKay to the committee and ask him to speak to LIB-14.
May 29th, 2014 / 6:25 p.m.
Liberal
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
I'm at a bit of a disadvantage here because I'm not a regular member of this committee, but I've had copious notes prepared for me by my colleague, Mr. Brison.
His point is that we generally support this division; however, it does have one serious problem, which I'd be interested in your thoughts about. As the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association said in their brief:
As currently proposed, [Bill C-31] would require suppliers to ensure product was labelled in compliance with the Hazardous Products Act and its regulations prior to its importation. This requirement creates an unnecessary burden on suppliers....Allowing suppliers to import product for relabelling would be consistent with the provisions of other modernized regulations....It is not always practical or possible to label product in another country prior to importing it into Canada.
The recommended amendment, which is being put forward as amendment LIB-14, is that the amendment creates an exception for Canadian employers to import product for relabelling, which is consistent with the intent of the bill. It removes an unnecessarily onerous restriction that will place Canadian jobs at risk by making it difficult for some employers to do business in Canada. We hope that you'll agree with this proposal.
What are your thoughts?
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
I'd be interested in their thoughts first, I suppose. But it's up to you. I'm in your hands, Chair.
6:25 p.m.
Director General, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
Yes, thank you for that.
I think it has been discussed at some of the committees, but essentially the amendments to the Hazardous Products Act provide the Governor in Council with the authority to make regulations to create the exceptions to the act. Any exemption to the Hazardous Products Act would be provided for in the proposed regulations. At a previous committee meeting, the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association did agree that it could be done through regulation and that would meet the requirement.
6:25 p.m.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Just so I understand it, the issue seems to be the compliance prior to its importation. How would that happen in the regime you are proposing?
6:25 p.m.
Director General, Workplace Hazardous Materials Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health
The way it's set out right now, it would need to be labelled prior to entering the country. What we understand to be the desire of some industry groups is that they would be able to import it and then label it after it's in the country.
Again, we see that done under other legislative and regulatory frameworks, so it is something that is done. It is something that we could do through regulation, and that would be the appropriate mechanism to do so.
6:30 p.m.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
I understand that you want to go to regulation as opposed to legislation, but why wouldn't you deal with it now in the form of legislation when it's in front of us and it is a “flaw” that's been spotted by these folks?