Environment Committee on May 8th, 2018

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

I'm being mindful of it.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Can I ask a question, Madam Chair, just for a level of comfort?

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Sure.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

The definitions occur after the preamble. Do the definitions apply, then, to the preamble?

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Yes.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Well, no, I want the opinion of the legal....

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Okay.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Do the definitions go backwards in the bill?

[A voice]

In part 1.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Yes, in part 1.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

So in part 1, any definitions that occur after the preamble also apply to the preamble of the bill?

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Yes.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

So the definition of UNDRIP, even though it's not stated....

I just want to make sure we're doing it according to Hoyle.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Do you want confirmation of that?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

No, I think the....

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

You can confirm it with the officials, if you want.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

No, the drafters are the ones who will know that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

And he's saying yes.

Does anybody want to mention something that we aren't doing right?

[A voice]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

We do? Okay.

Do you agree with that?

[Jean-Sébastien Rochon]

The definition is certainly applicable to the entire statute. The preamble forms part of it. If there's any doubt, the references to UNDRIP inside of the statute will serve to interpret as well what is in the preamble, I would think.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Okay?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Yes.

I understand the point that Mr. Fast has made. In this particular one, I know that you may not have taken the time, but I've taken the time, to look, and it is very clear that this is just a definition—defining what UNDRIP is and just giving the details. It's not a complicated change that's going to change context depending on how it's used.

So I will keep these ones lumped together, but I'm mindful of the comment. Going forward, I think we'll try to keep them going individually through.

Yes, Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

On a point of order, Madam Chair, you have just suggested that I didn't take the time to review the amendments.