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

MPs speaking

Also speaking

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

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

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

4:10 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

That's correct.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

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

4:10 p.m.

NDP

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”—

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

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

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I know what she's doing.

4:10 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

I'm reiterating what the mandate letters say.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

We don't have them in front of us.

4:10 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

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

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Can you read it again, please?

4:10 p.m.

NDP

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.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

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

4:10 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

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

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Okay, but what you're actually—

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

I could provide this to the analysts.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

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).

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I got it.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Okay, good.

4:15 p.m.

NDP

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.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Are you finished, Linda?

4:15 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Yes.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Mr. Fast.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

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?

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

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.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

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?