Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on Dec. 14th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

We need to focus it.

Ms. Redman.

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Thank you very much.

I am more than prepared to do any kind of heavy lifting that I need to do on this committee. I'm a former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, but that was awhile ago, so I'm more than happy to do that background information and get myself up to speed. But I would point out that this legislative committee is quite unique in the fact that this was referred to us before second reading, so by definition, I would say, it does have a very broad approach to this.

So I'm happy to do the background reading, but I didn't sign up for the Reader's Digest version of this very important issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I want to build on what Mr. Cullen said, because we sat on that committee together. Although it is an excellent report, I would refer all members to the dissenting opinion from the Conservatives, which is an even better report—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

—and the recommendations contained therein.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Read everything you can get your hands on.

Mr. Godfrey.

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I assume it would be standard operating practice, but I assume it would also be useful for the clerk to distribute to everybody the original package that announced what has now become Bill C-30, particularly the notice of intent to regulate. I assume that is going to happen. I got a copy of the bill, but I don't know if I got the....

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

My understanding is that we are addressing Bill C-30.

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

But the first cut at it was accompanied by the notice of intent to regulate, so that's a very important part. There was also some rationalization behind the bill, so I would have thought you might want to let people have what you thought was going to be the thing in the first place.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Yes, and I think relative to what Ms. Redman said, because it has been referred to committee before second reading, there is more latitude in the amendment process.

Is there any other business from the floor? No? I have a couple of points.

We need to decide when we're going to meet next.

[An hon. member]

January 29.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

January 29? But what about the timing of the meetings? Legislative committees take precedence over other meetings; however, we want to conflict as little as possible. A suggestion is that we may want to try going from 3:30 to 5:30. That gives us the option to extend into the evening if it becomes necessary.

That's just a suggestion. We don't have to lock into anything today.

Mr. Cullen.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Do you know what days of the week might be available? I know it's conflicting with many other committee meetings.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

No matter which one we pick, I would—

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

No, I just mean room-wise or space-wise. The only problem is—I'll be specific—to do it on Thursdays at 5:30 prevents many who have to catch flights. We'd prefer Monday and Wednesday, or Monday and Tuesday.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

I would prefer Monday and Wednesday, probably, for that reason. Let's start with that sort of intention and then see how it goes.

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I would prefer a morning meeting, not only because my transport committee has just been changed to Mondays at 3:30, which is a direct conflict with this—and I understand that may be a dilemma—but because I find the morning is a better working environment, to be blunt.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Can we leave it at this? Can everybody send to the clerk their schedules, as best you know them?

Yes?

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I would be more than happy to give you the dates on which I am available, but we must apply one principle: our respective whips must have a discussion to make sure that there are no scheduling conflicts between the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development and the legislative committee. There have been discussions to avoid scheduling conflicts. After that, we can always double check on how we want to proceed. We should bear this in mind when giving out the dates upon which we are available.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

My time is your time. I'm your humble servant.

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I was just going to suggest for the first meeting, if possible, unless somebody has a conflict, a Tuesday morning. We could start it—

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

That's the environment committee.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Tuesdays in the afternoon? Tuesday afternoon at 3:30? I think that's open for everybody right now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Mr. Warawa first, and then Mr. Godfrey.