Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on Jan. 29th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

We have a quorum. I'd like to call to order meeting number two of the special legislative committee on Bill C-30.

My military mind likes to start things on time, so I appreciate everybody being here. I hope we can continue to do that. We have a lot of work ahead of us, so it's important that we start on time and get to it.

I'd just ask the media to clear the room.

I want to welcome everybody back. I hope everybody had a good break at Christmas--and the word “break” is in italics, because everybody worked pretty hard over Christmas. I know I did; I'm sure you all did too. I hope everybody's ready to work hard, because Canadians are watching us and they're wanting to see some progress on what's an important issue for all of us.

I'd like to put out a plea to everybody on all sides that this is not question period. I know it's naive to say let's park the partisan politics, but let's do that as much as we can and work in a spirit of cooperation, because this is obviously an important issue for all Canadians and all parties in the House.

We want to go back to the House with a good quality product in a good timeframe--that will be up to members of the committee--so we can take back to the House and ultimately the Canadian people something that will make a difference for Canada, for the world, for our children and our grandchildren. It will probably always be a work in progress, but the key word is “progress”, and that's what we're here to initiate.

I'm looking forward to the task in a spirit of cooperation. I'm sure everybody here is as well, and we'll press on with the agenda.

Mr. Cullen.

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

Thank you, Chair.

In the spirit of your comments about moving with some haste, I asked my staff to gather the testimony from witnesses this committee and the committee in the previous Parliament heard on the specific topic of climate change and Canada's role in climate change. What you see in front of me is that information. Much of the testimony is extremely relevant to what we're talking about today. It's obviously a very wide view of the issues. I know the earnestness of committee members from all parties around the table to be aware of what we've already heard, and to not repeat information. As diligent committee members, I think it's incumbent upon us to be aware of what's already been done.

I will submit this to the clerk's desk. There has been a suggestion, and I take it well, that we'll place this all on CD so we won't have to create so much paper.

I think it's of note and importance to realize that for more than two and a half years committees have been studying this specific topic we are embarking on right now. We've spent much of our time and much of taxpayers' time delving into the issue, into the answers and solutions, and those are at our fingertips, literally, for the committee to choose from. So I submit this for the clerk's privilege.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

I would ask you to perhaps put that in the form of a motion so we can get it condensed into CD and pass it out and so on. I'm sure it will be unanimous, but I'd request that you put it in the form of a motion.

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

Absolutely. Would you like that motion now, Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Please.

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

I move that the committee accept the testimony from witnesses that has previously been viewed both here at the environment committee and also at the natural resources committee. They have also spent time on this very subject. That is my motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

No discussion?

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think it's a very good idea and I thank Mr. Cullen for suggesting it. I just want clarification. Are we talking about Bill C-288 or are we just talking about the last Parliament?

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

Chair, if I may, there are three main pieces: one is from the natural resources committee that specifically looked at climate change in Canada; the second is testimony on Bill C-288, which we most recently looked at over approximately a five-week period; and the third and most substantial set is what the committee in the 38th Parliament looked at for some number of months, six months or more--it's the witnesses' testimony and some of the information they submitted to the committee.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Okay. There was a minority report also as part of that report. Is that part of it?

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

I'm unsure of that, Chair. We can certainly make it part of the committee's final report.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

So will it be part of it--the minority report?

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

I don't see why not; it's rather small.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you. I support that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Mr. Cullen, as stated, the clerk does not have that motion in front of him, in writing. Is it possible to scribble it out while a couple more people make comments?

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

We'll dash something out for the committee to see in writing, if that would help the clerk.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Yes.

Mr. Godfrey.

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

I just want to make sure that in fact we're discussing two different motions. This is one motion, and then there's a second one that deals with a potential steering committee. I assume we're not voting or discussing that now.

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

Mr. Chair, to be clear, my staff are just reminding me that the motion is in front of the committee. There are two separate motions here. That's correct. Sorry.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

This one talks about Bill C-288, not the natural resources part.

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

Right.

If I can make an amendment to that motion, it would be just simply to include the natural resources testimony as well. It's completely relevant to the topic, and important. If that amendment is required, then I make it and the motion stands as viewed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Okay.

As a question for clarification, Mr. Cullen, the natural resources committee studied the oil sands as well. What timeframe are we talking about?

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

I believe it was the 38th Parliament, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

It was before the industry committee. Or was it industry and natural resources?

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

The Standing Committee on Natural Resources.