Environment Committee on May 9th, 2018

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

The point in subsection 10(2), where a copy of that description is posted on an Internet site, allows for a one-page summary of the project, and its precise location is to be posted on the Internet site. This is to provide more usable information to the public at large, because right now the agency must post a copy of the description on the Internet site.

Amendment PV-14.1 merely makes sure that its precise location is also included, and that for 60 days after the day on which the agency receives the information, so it also extends the period of time in which the public has access to that information on the website with the better information and the better location.

I think it's pretty clear. I hope it's acceptable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

I think that's very clear.

Go ahead, Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Madam Chair, we're going to support this.

Again, this is an eminently sensible addition to the requirements that a proponent would have to comply with, and it provides the public with a succinct description of the project, the location of the project, and enough time to consider it. I think it's sensible.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Shall the amendment carry?

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

A recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 5; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

We're moving on to NDP-24.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

This is on page 14, replacing lines 8 to 11 to be more specific:

The Agency must ensure the public is provided with opportunities to participate meaningfully

My understanding is we all agree with that:

in its preparations for a possible impact assessment of a designated project, or an assessment under section 92, 93 or 95

That includes impact assessments, regional assessments, and strategic assessments:

including by inviting the public to provide comments within the period that it specifies and in accordance with the regulations.

We don't know what this planning phase will apply to. If it's sensible, it makes sense to apply that to decisions on whether we need a regional assessment or a strategic assessment. I think it's important that those be referenced right up front.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Shall the amendment carry?

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

A recorded vote.

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

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Next up is LIB-8.

Mr. Bossio.

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

Thank you, Chair.

I've been pushing for some time for meaningful public participation, something that is not just a box-checking exercise. This amendment would help clarify and strengthen the government's commitment to meaningful public participation. As you've heard many times in this committee, I've been involved in this environmental assessment on numerous occasions and meaningful public participation is something that is vitally important to the process in order to achieve public trust.

I move this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Let's have a recorded vote.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 8 ; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Now we have CPC-0.1.

The floor is yours, Mr. Sopuck.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

This amendment would ensure that all the appropriate levels of government, be they towns, villages, or municipalities, would be invited to participate in these assessments, which I think is only reasonable. We learned in our last meeting that municipalities are legal entities.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Madam Chair, isn't this the same as the ones I put forward from the FCM that were voted down?

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

No, it's not. It's in a different place, so it's different. Fair enough? We'll move forward.

I want to make sure that you know that if we reject this amendment, amendment CPC-1.2 won't be able to be moved, because it's on the same thing.

Shall amendment CPC-0.1 carry?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

A recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 5; yeas 3 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

That did not carry, which means that CPC-1.2 is not going to be moved, because it references that one.

Next is amendment CPC-1.

Mr. Sopuck.

[Robert Sopuck, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I'll withdraw it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Thank you.

We are on amendment PV-15.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

This is from the Assembly of First Nations. The current description of the agency's obligation and offer to consult found in section 12 under the planning phase obligations is “the Agency must offer to consult with any jurisdiction”, and that would include municipalities as well as indigenous jurisdictions.

The proposal is to add the words “and share information”, so the sentence would now read, “The Agency must offer to consult and share information with any jurisdiction”.

Some might think it's implied that if you consult, you share information, but this would clarify and ensure that any jurisdiction consulted by the agency was provided with all the relevant information that the agency has when it enters into a consultation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I'm going to support this proposal. My big concern has been that the current government actually doesn't share information when it should. We request it, and we get documents back, and the documents are fully redacted. If consultation is supposed to be effective and meaningful, it has to be a sharing of information. I strongly support this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Mr. Amos.

[William Amos, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

There are many other provisions in this bill that adequately provide conditions and safeguards for information sharing, so we are in a good place already on this issue, and the sharing of information is going to happen pursuant to the—