Evidence of meeting #32 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was godfrey.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
No, I don't think we'd see that.
On the other hand, with the five-year time span, going over several.... I think most fair-minded people in the public would concede that this is spanning or bridging a couple of different governments here, so let's get the job done.
I just think the three years may be too short. We've heard complaints about that. You guys have been here to hear that as well. These people are saying that all we're doing is putting down lists of activities as opposed to whether we're actually reaching some of these stated objectives. Anybody can list activities, but maybe we are requiring a little more to be done here.
I would be voting against this. I don't know where the others on this side of the bench are going to sit, but I would say I would weigh in on the side of five, as things stand.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
Are there any other comments on the subamendment, which is that we change five to three? We need to vote on that subamendment, and then we'll come back to the original.
There are no other comments?
All those in favour of the subamendment--
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
Now we're back to the amendment as amended on clause 6.1. That now reads “three”, and we are now talking about that amendment.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
I mean that clause as amended.
Are there any other comments on that?
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
I would like to quickly read this--it won't take but a moment--just to confirm with the clerk that we're voting on the same thing. It would read as follows:
The Minister shall establish a Sustainable Development Office within the Department of the Environment to develop and maintain systems and procedures to monitor progress on implementation of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.
The Office shall, at least once every three years after the day on which this Act comes into force, provide the Minister with a report on the progress of the federal government in implementing the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The Minister shall cause the report to be laid before the House of Commons on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the Minister receives it.
Is that what you have?
Conservative
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Some of this language is borrowed a little bit from Mr. Godfrey's. I think it was referred to earlier.
We still end up voting on clause 13 at some point later. There's nothing overlapping?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
Yes.
We have eliminated L-19 on page 38. I think that's the only one we have done anything with at this point.
Conservative
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
I know we shall, but maybe I'm making a partial point that with the adjustments and changes that have been made, it may be invalidating it or making it unnecessary.
Do you still think it's necessary, John?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
I don't think we should start second-guessing where we're going to go or we'll--
Conservative
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
That's acceptable, Mr. Chair.
I'm just trying to cross-reference ahead, because you're advising us to look ahead as opposed to looking back, right?
