Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on March 26th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Mr. Jean or Mr. Warawa.

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

Well, it's important.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

It is important, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate the dialogue and the suggestions for clarification. Again, in asking for a friendly amendment.... If instead of “or” we had “air pollution, including global warming”, would that be seen as a friendly amendment? I think it would provide clarity but also provide what the mover is looking for. It would be changing the word “or” to “including”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

We've already had a friendly amendment that says “air pollution or climate change”. That friendly amendment has already been offered and accepted.

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

I've already agreed to a friendly amendment.

[An hon. member]

And that was accepted?

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

In fact, your colleague Mr. Jean has already moved a friendly amendment. That's what we're discussing right now and, unless I'm mistaken, that's the amendment that we must vote on at this time. We'll deal with other friendly amendments later, if need be, but as I see it, we must deal with the one currently on the table.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

However, you agreed to go along with this friendly amendment.

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

I did.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Let me read the motion as it stands:

That Bill C-30, in clause 8, be amended by replacing lines 31 to 33 on page 5 with the following:

air pollution or climate change;

(g.1) substances or activities that may contribute to air pollution or climate change;

That's where it stands right now.

Monsieur Bigras, you're next on the speaking list. Did you want to add anything else? No? Are we prepared to proceed?

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for the committee's indulgence on this.

I understand a little more of the rationale. My understanding is that air pollution includes greenhouse gases and air pollutants. I'm not particularly satisfied with that--no disrespect to the department. I understand your legal ramifications and other reasons you would put air pollution and greenhouse gases as pollution. But from my perspective, I would agree more with Mr. Bigras on this. I think we need to be certain in relation to climate change.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

The motion is on the floor as amended with a friendly amendment. Are you ready for the question?

Shall I read the motion again? Okay. It reads as follows:

That Bill C-30, in clause 8, be amended by replacing lines 31 to 33 on page 5 with the following:

air pollution or global warming; (g.1) substances or activities that may contribute to air pollution or climate change;

I'm sorry, Mr. Moffet, you have a question or input?

[John Moffet]

At the risk of going out on a limb, I would like to make a suggestion based on my concern that the term “air pollution” is used throughout the bill, and if you make this amendment, you would then have to, for the purposes of clarifying, make it throughout the bill.

An alternative approach—you're all going to yell at me—would be to go back to the definition of air pollution and clarify that it includes climate change.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

I would point out that if we do not—

[John Moffet]

I understand that. That would simplify everything, because then you don't have to change the term as it appears everywhere. If you change it once, then you have it automatically everywhere.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

I'll just point out that if the amendment fails, that is the situation we would be in. Okay?

I'm calling the question on amendment BQ-8.

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

I've heard from the department that we're going to have inconsistencies throughout the bill if we adopt this change.

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

I pointed out that if the amendment passes, it passes. If it fails, then the wording is as in Bill C-30. So let that be your guide.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Shall clause 8 carry?

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

Mr. Chairman, I want the clerk to take note of the definition section and what Mr. Moffet brought forward, when we deal with the definitions, to include that so we can debate it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Do we want to suspend for a moment, since we seem to be unofficially suspended?

Okay, we are suspended officially for about two minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

Since we seem to be discussing the Quebec election more than anything else, could we reconvene, please?

(Clause 8 agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Laurie Hawn]

It is ten minutes to nine. I know we said we would break at 9 o'clock. I have a feeling the next one will generate some discussion that will probably run well past 9 o'clock. So with your indulgence we will adjourn at this time and reconvene tomorrow at 9 o'clock. I suspect we will need a subcommittee meeting tomorrow after the last meeting to discuss progress.

This meeting is adjourned.