Environment Committee on April 14th, 2016

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'm not suggesting that people don't care deeply and long about the issue. What I'm suggesting is how this committee should function. We come to some resolution and then just have the resolution set and go off on our merry ways, as opposed to revisiting and revisiting and adding witnesses and reconsidering and adding another day.

I love flexibility. I was one who argued for flexibility at the beginning, but to a point because after a certain point.... As Ed would know negotiating trade deals, you need a point where you finally stop talking about it and just agree or not agree. I'm at that point of frustration now, I think.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Before we spend any more time, are we prepared to...? I think my problem is that I'm a new chair and maybe I have tried to be too flexible. I just want to make sure that we can get consensus on things. It's always better. It's worth the time, but it's frustrating people obviously.

I've put forward a suggestion on how I think we might move forward. Are we in a position to vote on it?

[Jim Eglinski, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

I move we adopt your motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Yes.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Could you clarify what the motion is exactly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

My motion is that on April 21, we draft instructions for the FSDA. May 3, 5, 10, and 12, we have witnesses for federally protected areas. On the 17th, we try to draft instructions for that piece of our work. Then on the 19th, 7th, 9th, and 14th of June, we work on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. We consider the report that comes back to us on May 31, we have the spring report from the commissioner on June 2, and the climate change study begins on the 21st and 23rd. That's what I'm suggesting.

June 16 was the draft report of the federally protected areas.

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Can you give us one minute to converse?

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Sure, but I know people have to go, so let's not be long.

I really do think we've had enough discussion on this. Are we ready to vote?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

It's on the floor.

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Hang on a second, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Mike, do you have something you need to put on the table for people? I'm not sure what the problem is.

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

No, it's okay. Call the question.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

I'm sorry, it is not unanimous.

Thanks. The committee is adjourned.