Environment Committee on May 7th, 2009

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I share the opposite concern of Mr. McGuinty. I prefer the fact that it's wide open. As I mentioned on Tuesday, I don't want to reduce it to universities and colleges.

I think it should go to.... For example, in Alberta we have two technical institutes that do a lot of training and reclamation, and so forth. I see no problem with giving money to an organization that, for example, trains first nations in how to do water monitoring. In many cases those are small technical colleges and so forth.

I like the fact that it's broad. I don't want to narrow it. Again, it's up to the enforcement officers to recommend to the prosecutor and then the prosecutor in turn to recommend to the judge. I prefer to leave it open.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Trudeau, and then Mr. Bigras.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I think Ms. Duncan and Mr. McGuinty are on the same page on that. Perhaps an amount to an “educational or training institution”, to modify “educational” so that it's not narrowly interpreted that “educational institution” is “universities and colleges” as opposed to....

It's off the top of my head, but the intent of broadening our definition of “education” is to be “skills development and training” on issues related to the environment.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Bigras.

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

I asked myself that question at the other meeting, and I did a bit of research to find out what constitutes an educational institution in Quebec.

I think I can give you a definition, based on the summary of the Quebec Department of Education. Educational institutions may be public or private elementary schools, public or private secondary schools, public professional training centres, colleges, CEGEPs, universities and private special schools.

So then, the definition is not restricted to CEGEPs and universities. It includes secondary and elementary schools. The scope of the definition is rather broad.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Are we ready to vote on amendment G-1, as amended?

Mr. Woodworth.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I would like to make it clear that I did not accept Mr. Trudeau's suggestion as a friendly amendment. Although I appreciate the spirit of it, I think it would be unnecessary and would unduly “complexify” our bill, which is intended to bring uniformity.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The clerk has a question.

[Wayne Cole]

G-1, as it was submitted to the committee, deals only with the English language of the text. Am I to understand that the committee wishes also to amend the French version of paragraph (m) by including the word “notamment”—

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

Yes, the word “notamment”...

[Wayne Cole]

—as was done in the earlier amendments?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[Wayne Cole]

Okay, thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

All those in favour of G-1 as amended?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 17 as amended agreed to)

(On clause 85)

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Does that bring us to G-8?

G-8 was a friendly amendment to include the word “including” or “notamment” in French. That was accepted as a friendly amendment.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Now we do G-8.1.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

G-8.1 on page 31.1 is in the same category as G-3.1, I think. It is simply an attempt to deal with the issue of the Marine Liability Act and any inconsistency between this Bill C-16 and international conventions, but in relation to a different statute being amended.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Do you accept my friendly amendment?

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

With respect to G-8.1, I will accept a friendly amendment.

I am moving it, but with a friendly amendment to replace the word “may” in both proposed subsections (1) and (2) with the words “is entitled to”.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

So now we're voting on G-8.1 as amended?

[Wayne Cole]

I'm sorry, we have a little bit of confusion here. G-8 is an amendment to clause 85. G-8 has been adopted, so the committee should vote on clause 85.

G-8.1 is the addition of a new clause 85.1. So we need to finish—

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay. We'll finish with clause 85 first.

(Clause 85 as amended agreed to)

Now we move on to amendment G-8.1, which introduces a new clause.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

There was a friendly amendment, as mentioned previously.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 86)

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We have three....

Those are withdrawn? Those are done? Okay.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Which ones?