Environment Committee on April 14th, 2016

Evidence of meeting #10 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Federal Sustainable Development Act

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Richard Botham Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development and Corporate Finance, Department of Finance

Les Linklater Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office

David Boyd Adjunct Professor, Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, As an Individual

Julie Gelfand Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Miodrag Jovanovic Director, Personal Income Tax, Tax Policy Branch, Department of Finance

Clerk of the Committee Ms. Cynara Corbin

1:15 p.m.

NDP

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.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

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?

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Jim Eglinski Conservative Yellowhead, AB

I move we adopt your motion.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Yes.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

Could you clarify what the motion is exactly.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

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.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON

Can you give us one minute to converse?

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

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?

1:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yes.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

It's on the floor.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON

Hang on a second, please.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

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.

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON

No, it's okay. Call the question.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

1:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

I'm sorry, it is not unanimous.

Thanks. The committee is adjourned.