Environment Committee on Dec. 7th, 2006

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

I will read the clause for you:This Act is binding on Her Majesty in Right of Canada.

We would like to add, after the word “Canada”, the words “or a province”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

You're amending this clause, then, Mr. Harvey?

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

The explanation is that

the clause means that all the requirements in the act apply to the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. The federal department, for instance, must comply with the act.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Do you have that in writing, Mr. Harvey, so we can make sure we have what you're amending correctly, so I can read it?

To be clear, Mr. Harvey, are you amending this, or is this only the explanation?

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

This is an amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Can we give Mr. Harvey a minute to—?

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

This is not an amendment, sir.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

It's not an amendment? That was an explanation of the point....

Mr. Rodriguez.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Yes. I simply want to know, Mr. Chair, if Mr. Harvey is going to fire his speech writer.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I don't believe he wants to answer that question, Mr. Rodriguez.

Are there any other comments on clause 4?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

A recorded vote, please.

(Clause 4 agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

(On clause 5--Climate Change Plan)

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Calkins.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Subclause 5(1) calls for the minister to prepare a climate change plan until 2013 that describes the measures Canada's taken to meet the Kyoto Protocol. In her September report and in testimony before this committee on October 3, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development said that it has become more and more obvious that Canada cannot meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments to reduce greenhouse gases; in fact, instead of decreasing, greenhouse gas emissions in Canada have increased by 27% since 1990. And she urged the government to come up with a credible, realistic, and clear plan with short- and long-term goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As my colleague Mark Warawa said earlier, we have done just that. Canada's new government has a plan. Our plan will achieve concrete results through mandatory enforceable regulation with short-term, medium-term, and long-term targets. The short-term targets for 2010 to 2015 will be announced in the spring of 2007. Regulations establishing mandatory standards will replace the voluntary approaches that failed in the past, and we will ensure that regulations are enforced and their objectives achieved.

Mr. Chair, we need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That's why our government wants to adopt a target-setting approach for greenhouse gas emissions based on emissions intensity improvements, a plan that will yield a better outcome for the Canadian environment than under the plan previously proposed on July 16, 2005. Under the notice of intent, the government stated that in the mid-term 2020 to 2025 targets, there will be absolute reductions that will support the establishment of a fixed cap on emissions.

That's why, Mr. Chair, I'll be voting against clause 5.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Cullen is next.

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

Mr. Chair, the committee has an amendment to this clause, but we're moving it into subparagraph 5(1)(a)(iii).

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Your amendment is in clause 6.

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

Yes, but we think it might be better and more intelligent to put it into clause 5.

With the committee's indulgence, it would be under subparagraph 5(1)(a)(iii). It would be an addition to “spending or fiscal measures or incentives”. There would be an addition to this, and it would read—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Just make sure everyone has that.

It sounds like we're okay now. Can we just start over again, please, Mr. Cullen?

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

Of course.

Initially, we had suggested this in another clause of the bill. It seems to make more sense in clause 5. Where it would go is in subparagraph 5(1)(a)(iii), and we would add in a piece, which would be 5(1)(a)(iii.1), that would read:

measures to provide for a just transition for industry affected by greenhouse gas emission reductions

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Do you have that written down?

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

Yes. It should be in the package that committee members have.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Just so we have it clear, this was the one for clause 6, and you want to put it on page 4. Is that correct?

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

Yes. I believe committee members will have reference 2575238.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Okay, we'll get this sorted out. Just one second.

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

The reference number is 2575238. It reads:

(f.1) respecting spending or fiscal incentives, including a just transition fund for industry;

The wording is slightly altered and placed into subparagraph 5(1)(a)(iii). It's the exact sentiment that was put forward in my original amendment, but moved over to clause 5.