Evidence of meeting #6 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was environment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Also, if the bells are about to ring, what if we just made it very short and distinct, with maybe a one-minute round?
10:40 a.m.
An hon. member
Go for it.
10:40 a.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Did you not say at the beginning of the meeting that there were some routine matters to resolve? There may be more important matters to be resolved.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
These are questions that we could discuss at the steering committee. I would have liked to address them, but if we want to do a third round, we can save time. If we have a few minutes left, I am going to raise a question, but it can wait.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I wanted to know whether, to start the study of the oil sands and water, you would object to inviting, for Thursday, the three ministers involved: Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. It would be a sort of technical briefing. Otherwise, we risk having nothing to discuss on Thursday and having to cancel the meeting. However, if we want to offer those people time to prepare, I propose that we invite them.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I guess you're now moving into those other questions. I would rather not do that. I'd rather finish our existing agenda--
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes. Why don't we do that and just leave it to the steering committee on Monday?
Mr. Warawa, for two minutes.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Two minutes? Thank you.
Mr. Hamilton, could you just share with us the people or industries that you have experience with? You have the economic experience, and now, going into the environment department, it's very important to have that balance so that we're not too onerous in our requirements. We want to clean up the environment, but we don't want to put people out of work. What kind of experience do you have with industry?
10:40 a.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment
Maybe I'll just broaden it slightly to talk about the experiences I've had in consulting with people outside of government in general.
Certainly in my experiences in the tax area I've touched on a number of issues that needed consultation. It could be actual environmental issues, where I was involved in looking at environmental tax initiatives. We do have tax incentives for assets used in co-generation, for example. There is a variety of places in the tax system where there is an environmental angle, so I am familiar with consultations with non-government organizations and with industry, with the oil and gas sector, and with the electricity sector, or whoever it might be.
Finally, in the tax area, I would say there were also discussions with social groups, whether we were developing the working income tax benefit or tax measures for the disabled. I have quite a bit of experience in dealing with a broad range of groups out there that have particular interests they bring with them.
I think that gives me a broad experience in terms of being able to consult with people outside government on policy issues. From a business perspective in particular, I was, for a period of time, the director of corporate taxation, so I certainly have a lot of experience in discussing all sectors of the economy, including the financial sector, as to how to analyze and understand the impacts of the policy issues.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I think the committee would like to adjourn and do our duty as legislators.
I would like to thank you for appearing, Mr. Hamilton. Your answers were informative, and we look forward to seeing you often in front of this committee.
Thank you.
10:45 a.m.
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.