Environment Committee on Dec. 1st, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Yes, it would be in line, as that relates to the interpretation of the act, to that principle.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Would it be okay to refer to clause 2, reading what is in here regarding sustainable development? Would it be appropriate for me to actually read the definition?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

You can read the definition if you want; it's right above clause 3 there.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you. I will read that. It says:

“sustainable development” means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Chair, what is missing in there—and this is the point I've been trying to make—is defending the principle of balance, which is what we've heard about from every witness. That is what's missing in Bill C-469. Just because something is called “the environmental bill of rights” doesn't mean it is an environmental bill of rights. It could very well be a Trojan horse that would be used by special interest groups to attack a balance. That is our concern. That's what we heard from the witnesses: that there needs to be a balance.

Chair, am I hearing interruptions again or...?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Go ahead. You have the floor, Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you.

Chair, I think it's imperative that Bill C-469 have that balance, and that is what's missing.

What I'm actually shocked to see is that members of the Bloc would be supporting a bill that doesn't have that balance, that would actually attack their own province. I'm shocked that the Bloc is supporting U.S.-style legal actions against Hydro-Québec. That is shocking.

I'm surprised that the Bloc, using clause 3 and its lack of definition, would want massive tax increases against people living in Quebec, including a tax increase on heating oil, a massive tax increase on natural gas costs, a tax increase on electricity costs, a massive tax on iPods and on cars, and on it goes.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Chair, I'm shocked that the Bloc wants the federal government and the federal courts to have new powers over the Province of Quebec. How would the Bloc ever support this? But this is what we're actually seeing happening here.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

On a point of order, Monsieur Bigras.

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

Could you tell the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of the Environment that he should focus his remarks on clause 3 and stop attacking the opposition? I think he showed today that he has enough to say with his own arguments that he does not need to start blaming the opposition.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Mr. Warawa, I suggest that you do stay on topic. In particular, “iPod” was not relevant to the debate.

Mr. Woodworth, on that point of order.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Chair, I would like to just point out for the record on this point of order that we've probably wasted more than half the time we've had this afternoon because of points of order that have been raised by the opposition.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Okay. The bells are ringing. I have a duty to adjourn this meeting.

May I have a motion to adjourn, please?

[An hon. member]

So moved.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

We're out of here.