Environment Committee on May 14th, 2008

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

We can't. Exactly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Right.

We're still moving forward.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Be aware about the old clause 13.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Right.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

That's all I'm saying.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

We are now voting on the new clause 6.1 as amended. The amendment, of course, was changing five to three, and that was carried.

Now we're voting on this clause, as Mr. Warawa read to us.

(Amendment agreed to)

(On clause 7--Sustainable Development Advisory Council)

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Clause 7 has two amendments.

Mr. Lussier.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Shouldn't we adopt clause 6, including subclause 6(1)?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

No.

We designated it as a new clause. Ultimately the numbering and the new version will show that.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Now, with clause 7, we do have two amendments.

Those are L-8 and L-9. They are found on pages 17 and 18.

We'll deal with page 17, L-8, first.

Mr. Godfrey.

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

The first one simply broadens and is more inclusive of the definition of aboriginal peoples, as opposed to the strict legal sense of first nations. On this advisory council we would expect there would be a larger universe of people we might draw from, including Métis, for example. That's why we substituted “Aboriginal peoples” for “First Nations”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

And you move that.

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

I do.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

We have L-8, which we're now considering, which, as you've heard, takes line 30 and changes that from “First Nations” to “Aboriginal peoples”.

Are there any questions or comments?

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

The government supports this amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Okay.

Is there anyone else?

Are there any comments?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Could you call the question?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I am calling the question right now.

We're voting on L-8.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

I have a question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

You have a question, Mr. Vellacott?

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

I have a question for Mr. Godfrey at this point. Did you have some consultations with the various aboriginal groups? Are they all pleased and happy with this change of terminology?

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

It wasn't that I consulted with any particular group of people. It was pointed out to me that “First Nations” is a more restrictive term and applies to the 625 specific communities in the country, but that might exclude non-status aboriginals; it might exclude Métis. So it was designed to be a larger and more representative group of people.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Before we vote on this, I have an amendment that will be dealing with this clause but would be changing who's appointing the advisory council.

When can I table this?