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.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair (Mrs. Deborah Schulte (King—Vaughan, Lib.)) Liberal Deb Schulte
I will bring the meeting to order.
We had a small delay, and to gain back the time, we've set ourselves to go to until seven o'clock. I am quite prepared to go longer, given the situation.
Is the committee willing to go longer?
3:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
If you want to add some meetings, we'd be glad to consider that.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
No. I'm looking to go longer in time. I'm also thinking about tomorrow. Our meeting is set for 11 until 1:30.
I'm quite prepared to start the meeting at nine o'clock so that we have lots of time to go through the amendments and are able to discuss them.
Is there willingness to start at nine o'clock tomorrow?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
It's up to you. If you can't, you can't.
I'm just offering an opportunity to do it. If you don't, we'll see you at 11 o'clock.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Madam Chair, before we begin, I have a matter I want to raise that has come to the attention of all the committee members.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
It's now into 2,000 to 3,000 letters that we've all received in our in-baskets today and they're continuing to come in. Canadians across the country are asking that the meetings on this bill be extended. They're deeply concerned that we won't get to the third part of the bill, on navigable waters protection, and there won't be proper review and debate of that.
Since we have all received these requests, mounting into the thousands, we should seriously consider a request I made some time ago that we need to be giving reasonable attention to every one of the 800 clauses and all three parts of the bill. I do not believe we can do that in the two more meetings after this one.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I just asked to extend time so we could have more time and it has been refused by you and Mr. Fast.
I'm quite prepared to extend the meetings that we have available to us so that we can do exactly that, but I don't have willingness on that side of the committee to do that.
We're going to move on and do the very best we can with the time that is allotted.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Madam Chair, there are more options than just giving us 24-hour days. We can add additional days.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
What is the crisis that we can't do a proper review of this bill?
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
Okay, Linda. We're going to move back to the business of clause-by-clause. Thank you.
I tried to give more time—
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I thought one of us could speak up for all the people who've written to all of us.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
—and you weren't willing to do that.
Thank you. We'll move to clause-by-clause.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Madam Chair, first of all, I take exception to the fact that you are somehow suggesting at this very late stage, here in the middle of a meeting, that our meetings be extended by an hour or two hours when we asked a long time ago that additional days be allocated for a review of the bill and for a review of the amendments that have come before us.
By the way, I am advised by my staff that the number of letters received is actually 4,000.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Yes, 4000 letters.
Here we are at this table, ramming through a bill that Canadians know is deeply flawed.
How can you, as chair, preside over such a situation? I'm shocked.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I wouldn't be shocked, because if you want to go back into the records, you can see how many times I've asked this committee to have an extra day on Monday or extend the times, and there has been no willingness to do that.
We are where we are. I understand there are a lot of amendments in front of us to try to amend the bill. That's what I would like to spend the time on, to go through the amendments to see where we can amend the bill.
All right? Thank you.
Linda, very quickly.
3:55 p.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
With all due respect, we have other responsibilities as MPs. When you're simply adding on another hour here or there when we have commitments, including to our constituents, we're simply asking for more days on this bill. What is the problem? What's the urgent business of this committee after the Tuesday that we get back?