Environment Committee on May 14th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

That should actually come first, because that deals with line 24.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

I could use this as a subamendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Godfrey, we have a slight problem here. I want you to withdraw this and then let Mr. Warawa introduce his new motion, and we'll deal with yours in a minute.

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

You want me to withdraw it? And then I can resubmit it.

I withdraw it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Warawa, I believe we are dealing with lines 24 to 27. If everybody is looking at lines 24 to 27 in clause 7, this will now read:

The Minister shall appoint a Sustainable Development Advisory Council, composed of one representative from each province and territory, and three representatives from each of the following:

--and so on.

We would take out line 24 to 27 and replace it with:

The Minister shall appoint a Sustainable Development Advisory Council, composed of one representative from

--and so on.

We have an amendment, which will have a number, but everybody knows where it fits.

Are there any comments about that amendment?

Could you move it, Mr. Warawa, and explain it?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

It's moved, and, again, I appreciate your kindness in allowing it to be tabled.

Requiring the Governor in Council to make appointments is unnecessary. Rather, the authority should go to the appropriate minister, in this case, the Minister of the Environment, who is ultimately responsible for the strategy and who will chair the advisory committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Does everybody understand that?

Are there any comments or questions?

Shall amendment whatever number for clause 7, lines 24 to 27, carry?

(Amendment agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Godfrey, I'll ask you to resubmit your amendment L-8. We've already discussed it and L-8 is moved.

Is there any other discussion?

Everyone understands we have removed “First Nations” and put in “Aboriginal peoples”?

Those in favour of L-8?

(Amendment agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

We now have amendment L-9 on page 18.

Mr. Godfrey.

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

This was a very important addition, because as various folks, ranging from members of the government to the Speaker, have pointed out, we wanted to be absolutely certain that we did not find ourselves in a position that would imply a royal recommendation, because it cannot involve expenditures. We wanted to clarify that this was a non-remunerated job. This did not imply a new budget, and these are going to be volunteers without remuneration, not reimbursed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Are there any comments?

Mr. Vellacott.

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

I understand the member is required to do that in terms of a royal recommendation and so on. The question I raise is on getting people to travel on their own dime across the country for these meetings, whatever the frequency is. Do you have some workaround proposal with respect to how that's done for those people coming a great distance?

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

The easiest solution would be to have video conferences or teleconferences or something that would not require people to move, and that would also be environmentally more sustainable and in the spirit of the act, federally speaking.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

And the love for sustainable development would be the driver.

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

Yes.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Bloody marvellous. You've thought of it all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Are there any other questions or comments?

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

So there's absolutely nothing that can be given by way of...to get around the royal recommendation issue?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, is Mr. Vellacott asking...? Is this from an excess of caution, or you're saying you're worried that it's too much caution? Is that it?

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

I'm just wondering what kind.... In terms of the importance of a job, we often say that you attach, to some degree, remuneration for it to the quality of people you're able to get.

I'm just raising the issues. I'm not saying we can't get quality people with this kind of a provision, but let's be realistic too.

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

I would say simply that I think we all have sat on voluntary boards without compensation, and I don't suspect that has diminished the worthwhile nature of our contribution to those boards, and so have all the citizens who have elected us.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I think, Mr. Vellacott, your point simply is about the quality, and whether you will get people to volunteer to do this. Knowing the community that's concerned about sustainable development, I think you will. I think the main point, the bottom line, is that if this involves spending, of course, that now becomes the whole problem when it comes to the House. I think it's fairly clear what Mr. Godfrey is trying to do.

Mr. Bigras.

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

If these persons receive a remuneration, we will need a royal recommendation. This is an important question. If the government commits itself to make a royal recommendation, that's another story. I think that is the central thrust of the amendment which is presented.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Are there any other comments?

Mr. Vellacott.

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

I understand the problem. I'm not trying to push us into a position where the government is committing on this in terms of royal recommendations. I well understand, because everybody around this table has probably served on voluntary boards, and sometimes that ebbs and flows, though, because of other commitments. I find voluntary boards tend to—sometimes the terms are more limited, people move on, they have to put a roof over their head and pay bills and all that kind of stuff. That's all I'm saying.

I accept the fact that people who are committed to these very important crucial concepts and so on will hopefully stand in for long enough so that we'll have continuity. My issue is also continuity. I'm obviously not making any commitment on behalf of government in terms of royal recommendation or even trying to draw us into doing it, because it will create some problems for us. I understand that, Mr. Bigras.