Environment Committee on Jan. 31st, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I would just ask that the cameras depart, and then we'll begin the meeting.

Thank you very much, and again, welcome to our guests.

There are a couple of items I'd like to deal with first, before we get into the testimony and what we're here for.

The first is the election of the vice-chair, which I explained yesterday was necessary. What happens here is that I vacate the chair and the clerk takes over, there are nominations, and the process occurs.

The second thing I'd like to deal with is the schedule, which was brought up at the end of the meeting, as to when we could have our meetings for the upcoming weeks.

So I would ask the clerk to take over, and we'll get that done and carry on.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Justin Vaive]

I'm now prepared to receive motions for the election of the first vice-chair.

[Anthony Rota, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

I nominate Geoff Regan.

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition. It has been moved by Mr. Rota that Mr. Regan be elected as the first vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Clerk]

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Regan duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Congratulations, Mr. Regan. Good campaign.

Concerning the schedule, we talked about the problems with Bill C-30. What the clerk has managed to arrange is that our meetings that normally would be on Tuesdays could be held on February 5, 12, 19, and 26, on those Mondays. Those meetings would be held from 3:30 until 5:30 on Mondays. Our Thursday meetings would carry on as scheduled, with the meeting on the 15th being cancelled, but all the other meetings on the Thursdays would carry on.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chairman, was there a problem with the Tuesday meetings?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Yes, there was. The Bill C-30 committee meets from 9 until 11 and from 3:30 to 5:30 on Tuesdays. Several members are on each, and they requested that we look at another time slot.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

So they're a darn nuisance, aren't they?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

They're a nuisance, but we have to put up with them.

Mr. Cullen.

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

I won't make a comment about the nuisance.

I think if the clerk talks to the clerk of the Bill C-30 committee, they'll find that the first one you mentioned, 5:30 on Monday evening, won't work. We actually have a meeting booked this Monday evening at 5:30.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

This is 3:30 until 5:30 on Mondays.

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

Oh, excuse me, it's 3:30. I heard 5:30.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Are there any other comments on that schedule as put forward? I hope that accommodated....

I think it was you, Mr. Cullen, who brought this to the attention of the group.

Does that meet everybody's approval? Are there any problems?

The clerk will send out notices, and our next meeting, then, will be at 3:30 on Monday, February 5.

We'll now move on.

Mr. Cullen.

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

Chair, before we begin testimony, I think there's something important that arose from yesterday's meeting that I would bring to the attention of the committee.

Without holding things up, I'd like to move a motion that we should consider before we start. I move that yesterday's meeting of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, held in camera, be a matter of public record, and that all records and minutes be released into the public record.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Before we deal with the motion, if I could ask Ms. Fraser, obviously it was a heads-up to us, and now that it is public and there have been varying reports about what happened at that meeting, what is your feeling, if I may ask?

[Sheila Fraser, Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General of Canada]

I have absolutely no objection, Mr. Chairman. In fact, I think it might be quite useful if the transcript of that meeting was made public.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Okay.

Are there any other comments?

Is there a seconder for the motion?

Thank you, Mr. Regan.

Mr. Harvey.

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

Since we've requested an in camera meeting, does that risk setting a precedent whereby, if someone requested an in camera meeting again, the discussion might fall into the public domain? Is it customary to change a decision concerning a meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

The clerk advises me that it's quite within protocol to do this. You take testimony in camera that, with all agreement, can in fact be then put on the record.

In that regard, I think I should express on behalf of myself, and hopefully most of the committee, that I was fairly upset, fairly annoyed, that I received from the Canadian Press through The Globe and Mail at 12:51 statements made by a reporter of what happened in that in camera meeting. Obviously, I feel that an in camera meeting is in camera.

We will have cause, hopefully very seldom, to have in camera meetings, but I don't want to read about them or hear about them. Reporters were immediately calling about comments as soon as I left this room. Of course, some of those stories ended up being totally incorrect and inaccurate. I found that to be most disturbing and unfair to our witness, because of course the notice of meeting had gone out that it was in camera, we discussed that at some length, and we decided to go ahead to hear the heads-up about what was going to happen at 3 o'clock. Obviously, at 3:01, I assumed people could talk about that meeting, but I didn't expect to see it at 12:51, in writing, on my desk. I was very troubled by that. It's not the sort of thing that I would hope this committee would allow to happen ever again, and it's a discredit to all of us I think that it did happen.

I don't believe we need to discuss that any further than to make that statement and for everyone to get that message. We're now going to be dealing with the CEPA report, which again has to be in camera until it's tabled in the House. I don't want to read about it, and I'm sure none of the other members here wants to read about what happens during those discussions of important pieces of legislation. I think that's enough said. I don't believe I want to entertain a lot of comments on this.

However that happened, I trust it won't ever happen again. Whoever leaked that material obviously knows who they are. Anyway, I think we'll move on.

I believe, Mr. Cullen, you indicated that....

Mr. Warawa, is it on the same subject, or have I satisfied the issue?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to first move to hearing from the Auditor General. After we've spoken and questioned her and heard from her again, I also have a comment that I'd like to make on that, but not at this time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I think we can proceed, Mr. Cullen. I think we're fine now with everything.

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

Just to be clear, that motion was carried?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

That motion was carried unanimously.

(Motion agreed to)