Evidence of meeting #33 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
It was 20 minutes total, and if we only have three witnesses, then I'm not sure what you're dealing with.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
I think we have four. We're pretty sure we have four, but if it's three, then it will be for seven minutes each. If it's four, then it will be for five minutes each. It will be 20 to 21 minutes. That's what I think is before us now by agreement.
Is it the will of the committee to accept this?
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Thank you very much.
Let's go on now to the meat of the matter, so to speak.
Mr. Godfrey.
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I realize I need the unanimous consent of the committee to return to a motion put previously. I have discovered after consulting lawyers at the Auditor General's office that one of the motions we passed towards the end of the day last time, which was originally known as L-12, has a word that needs to come out. The word is “including”. To remind people, L-12 is now in front of you as L-14.2.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Mr. Godfrey, colleagues, just to be clear, you have two packages: the original package of amendments and the new package of amendments, which Mr. Godfrey has submitted, I believe, today. At the front of that is amendment L-14.2, which he is now proposing to replace, if you accept that we would go back to clause 8, which is already carried--and we'd have to have unanimous consent for that--
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I'm proposing to remove one word. It currently reads “The Minister shall at the same time submit the draft of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy to the Commissioner for review and comment”--and then come the words “including as to whether the targets and implementation strategies can be assessed, for which the Minister shall allow a period of not less than 120 days”.
The Auditor General wants us to remove the word “including” because it suggests that the commissioner might review and comment on things other than the assessability. This makes it certain that it's only about the assessability. So if we have unanimous consent to revert to that, I would propose to eliminate the word “including” to make it clear that it's all about the assessability.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Colleagues, we've already passed clause 8. Mr. Godfrey is seeking unanimous consent to return to clause 8 in order to move this motion. Is there unanimous consent?
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
(On clause 8--Preparation)
Mr. Godfrey, would you like to propose your motion?
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I propose that we amend subclause 8(3.1) as you see under amendment L-14.2, just by removing the word “including” between “comment” and “as to”.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
That's in place of the earlier amendment.
Is there any discussion on this? Hearing none, those in favour, please signify by raising your hand.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
We have to re-pass clause 8 as amended.
(Clause 8 as amended agreed to)
(On clause 10--Regulations)
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
We're dealing with amendment L-15, which is on page 31 of your main booklet of amendments.
Mr. Warawa.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Chair, I don't know if procedurally this would be an appropriate motion, but I'd like to repeal clause 10.
Liberal
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
We don't have to proceed with the amendment because the activity we're describing under clause 10 will now be captured under clause 11.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan
Okay. One way to do this is that when I ask if clause 10 is carried, you would say no. Are we ready for that?
Mr. Cullen.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
My apologies to the committee for not having been in some of these discussions. Could I have a little bit more rationale from the mover?
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I apologize for the delay in starting the committee, because Mr. Warawa and I and some folks were trying to save some work here to get our ducks lined up.
Essentially, what we're going to do is put into clause 11 the material that was contained in clause 10. But in order for you to have a better idea of what we're up to, I think it would be useful to show you that motion.
The issue here is that we are trying to make sure that what we do earlier in the bill will be consistent with what we do when we amend later in the bill the Auditor General Act. So we have to keep going backwards and forwards to make sure we're consistent. I think it will become clearer when we get you the proposed clause 11, which will incorporate clause 10, and that will, I hope, make things--
NDP