Environment Committee on Nov. 5th, 2014

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

We could call it the Liberals never did it in 25 years act.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

All in favour of adopting the preamble?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Shall the bill carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

On division.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Shall I report the bill to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Mr. Sopuck.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB]

I have a motion I'd like to propose.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Is it about the bill, because the bill has been dealt with.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB]

No, it's not.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

I want to remind committee members that we have Mr. Michael Martin here. We would like to give him as much time as possible.

Mr. Sopuck.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB]

I would like to move the following motion:

That, when and if an order of reference is made respecting Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act (Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve of Canada), which refers the Bill to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, the Committee shall begin a study of the Bill for two meetings, commencing on November 17th, 2014, with an appearance by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, and departmental officials for the first hour, and with the potential for witness participation in the second hour, and that the committee commence clause by clause consideration of the Bill on November 19th, 2014.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Ms. Leslie.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

I wonder if my colleague would accept a friendly amendment to say at least two days.

I don't think there are going to be a lot of witnesses, truth be told. I think all parties agree, but I hesitate with the cut-off time.

If there are more witnesses.... I mean, who are we going to call? We're not going to call people from Vancouver or Regina. But just not to have a cut-off time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Remind me again, Mr. Sopuck, of the dates you had indicated.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB]

Commencing on November 17.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Would we have Minister Aglukkaq that first day and then another day for witnesses? Is that what your motion was?

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Will there be clause-by-clause study on the 19th as well, or following that?

We would have the minister and officials, and then the following day, would we have one set of witnesses and then go into clause-by-clause study, or just clause-by-clause study?

We need some clarification.

It's the minister and officials for the first hour and then other witnesses the second hour. That helps clarify it for me.

Mr. McKay.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

I have no witnesses on this particular file, but assuming some of the witnesses will be from a great distance away, will we have capacity to bring them in via video conference? That will actually be in different time zones.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

I can't answer that question. Can others answer that question? With the potential for witnesses from far afield, where we may not have access to video equipment, will we have capacity to bring them in? Is anyone prepared to speak to that?

Mr. Calandra.