Environment Committee on May 9th, 2018

Evidence of meeting #112 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 agency.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-69

Members speaking

Before the committee

Jean-Sébastien Rochon Counsel, Department of Justice

Christine Loth-Bown Vice-President, Policy Development Sector, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Brent Parker Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Division, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Olivier Champagne Legislative Clerk, House of Commons

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Yes.

6:55 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

We're all getting tired, including me.

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

I got it. That makes sense.

6:55 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

They could want Fisheries and Oceans, for instance, to give them information, so it's “or federal authority to collect that information”.

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Do you want to make a comment?

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB

Yes. This is outside the scope of normal impact assessment work. The proponent always does the study and can ask the federal government for data that it has, but to have a federal agency go out there and do a study that's part of an impact assessment is simply not in the tradition of impact assessments. It's the proponent that does the study.

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

You guys all agree with that.

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Point well made.

Shall amendment NDP-30 carry?

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I'd like a recorded vote.

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

We'll have a recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

I'm going to try to get one more in before seven o'clock, if I can.

We'll move to NDP-31.

7 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

This is one that everybody should like.

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

We're almost there. Let's quickly do it.

7 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

I've heard how popular it is. We're at line 8 on page 22. It would read, “The Agency must ensure that the public is provided with an opportunity for meaningful participation in the impact assessment”.

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

This is consistent with another one we moved. Is everybody good with that? Do you understand?

Shall amendment NDP-31 carry?

(Amendment negatived)

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

I understand that people did not want to extend the session tonight. I know we're moving through it, and I'm trying to be very generous with the time so that people can explain themselves and understand each amendment carefully. I would like to suggest that tomorrow we try to start at nine o'clock.

7 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

No.

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

What about 10 o'clock?

I'm doing my best to give the time that's needed.

May 9th, 2018 / 7 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC