Environment Committee on May 10th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. McGuinty.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I was hoping to hear from Dr. Khatter about this proposed amendment. Are we in a position to hear from him? He's an authority as well in the country.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I think the question is whether we are going to start calling witnesses to the table. That was a question that was raised, that we've had witnesses for this whole bill. We have our experts from the department.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Maybe the experts from the department could give me some indication, for example, of opposing views to this series of recommendations.

What might other parties, for example NGOs, say about these government amendments here on page 4?

[James Van Loon]

I'm not certain.

The committee has looked at virtual elimination. It understands that there are some issues with the release-limit regulations and the LOQs. The bill as it was originally drafted simply adopted the provisions of CEPA as they were. I think this is basically a workaround for PFOS, as we work out what to do with the VE provisions in the act, in response to your report.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Could we hear from Ms. Minna?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

I was just going to clarify with respect to Mr. Khatter. I had invited him to be here with me this morning. I apologize that I didn't send his name in advance as someone who would be here as part of my team, as opposed to.... That's just to explain why he was here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Thank you.

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

We've had thorough discussions with the sponsor of the bill, Ms. Minna, and also with Mr. Khatter. There were some problems, in a practical sense, with the original bill, but I think we've come to the position that we very much support the principle, the efforts, of the bill, and we've now tried to clean it up so that we have a bill that is constitutional and will deal with PFOS appropriately.

As my opening comments said, it's good to have it on the virtual elimination list. It gives a very strong signal. But the real tool is to prohibit PFOS, so we're doing both: having it on VE and prohibited. Those changes through consultation make the bill I think a constitutional bill and a bill that will appropriately deal with PFOS. I think we met that middle ground.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Ms. Minna.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have discussed the amendments with Mr. Khatter and a couple of others, and they are okay with us. Primarily, we have been discussing, as the member said, back and forth. This does get it on the virtual elimination list.

As I said earlier in my remarks, I would also like to see a couple of motions from this committee that would address the issue of the shortfalls within CEPA and also move to put this on the Stockholm Convention. I think this would take it to that other level.

But that I think is something the members would want to do as a separate action, outside the bill that's here in front of you today.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Are there any other comments?

On the proposed amendment, which you have in front of you on page 4, would those in favour please signify.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 3 as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings)

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

We will go back, then, to clause 2.

(On clause 2--Definitions)

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

We have amendment G-3 on page 3.

Yes, Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

I would like to propose G-2, which is on clause 2.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I believe it is amendment G-3.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Actually, it's amendment G-2. We were just dealing with amendment G-3.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

This is in the package that was handed out to all members.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

I thought we had stood.... I'm sorry, you're right. I have a different number here. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

So we're on amendment G-3, page 3.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

We're on amendment G-3, according to your package.

The government is proposing a change to the accountable ministers in this act for consistency with the virtual elimination sections of CEPA. In CEPA it's both the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health who are accountable for the VE list. That's the logic for the change.

The change to clause 2 brings it into harmony with clause 3. I would move amendment G-3.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Thank you, Mr. Warawa.

Are there any comments on adding “and the Minister of Health”?

Yes, Mr. Bigras. Sorry, Mr. Cullen.

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

I have only one comment. If we proceed--

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

You're so quiet today, I forgot your name.

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

--at this pace we're going to miss lunch. That would be a great misfortune for us all.

I'm kidding. There are no comments. The amendments are fine.