Environment Committee on May 9th, 2018

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

In “social and economic”, are you putting “culture” in after “social”?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

That is in proposed paragraph 6(1)(b).

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Yes.

Then paragraph (b) in my amendment is replacing lines 7 and 8 on page 10 with the following: “(j) to ensure that an impact assessment is based on sound science and takes into account...”.

Here, I am changing the wording, and I will tell you why I am changing it. I will read this one from the floor as well. I'll say it slowly so that we get the interpretation for our francophone friends.

These lines will read, “to ensure that an impact assessment is based on sound science and takes into account the best technologies available to reduce environmental impacts...”.

The reason I am using those specific words is that I am taking them straight out of the Prime Minister's mandate letters to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Those two letters mandate that the two ministers must “ensure that decisions are based on science, facts, and evidence and serve the public's interest”—

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Say it again, Linda, please, because I think people are trying to write while you are saying it.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I know what she's doing.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I'm reiterating what the mandate letters say.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

We don't have them in front of us.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

You don't have them in front of you, but I'm reading this slowly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Can you read it again, please?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

The mandate letter to the Minister of Natural Resources states that he will:

ensure that decisions are based on science, facts, and evidence, and serve the public's interest; [and] require project proponents to choose the best technologies available to reduce environmental impacts.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

You're not including that in the bill. That's just the justification.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I'm not. I'm just telling you why this is being submitted.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Okay, but what you're actually—

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I could provide this to the analysts.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

No, that's fine. This gives an explanation. Ed was trying to actually get it into a script.

It's for proposed paragraph 6(1)(j).

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I got it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Okay, good.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

My paragraph (c) would propose three additional paragraphs after line 27 on page 10:

(o) to contribute to achieving and maintaining a healthy and stable climate for future generations; (p) to ensure environmental justice by ensuring that designated projects do not have a disproportionate negative impact on Indigenous peoples or on other groups distinguished on the basis of grounds including race, colour, national origin or income; and (q) to ensure adherence to or compliance with related regional agreements and international obligations and commitments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Are you finished, Linda?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Madam Chair, at our last meeting, right at the beginning when we were dealing with, I believe, the preamble.... We were dealing with an amendment, in any event, in which we had a number of subclauses included in the amendment. We dealt with each one of them separately. Do you remember that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Yes, but that's because she actually broke them out. We were dealing with them in the way they broke them out.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Exactly. Now Ms. Duncan asked if she could break these out.

I believe that was her request, wasn't it?