Evidence of meeting #113 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 line.

A recording is available from Parliament.

minutes of proceedingsrecorded vote amendmentnays 8 yeas1 seereview panellinepagecarryshall

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
Philippe Méla  Legislative Clerk
Brent Parker  Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Division, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Jeff Labonté  Assistant Deputy Minister, Major Projects Management Office, Department of Natural Resources

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

That's in the second line of proposed subsection 28(3) in the amendment. It would add “and indigenous groups”.

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

That would be at line 26 of the bill.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Does everybody understand the subamendment? We're adding “and indigenous groups” after “public” in the second line of that subsection.

As spoken

11:10 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I call for a recorded vote.

(Subamendment negatived: nays 8; yeas 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Now we'll vote on the amendment.

As spoken

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I call for a recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 8; yeas 1)

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

We'll move on to amendment NDP-32. If this adopted, amendment LIB-20 cannot be moved because of redundancy.

Ms. Duncan.

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Amendment LIB-20 can't be moved?

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Yes, that's what will happen. Amendment LIB-20 cannot be moved because it would be redundant with what you're doing here.

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Okay.

This relates to specific submissions from Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, and the Cold Lake First Nations. It would ensure that traditional knowledge is afforded the same weight by agency staff and decision-makers as western science. The expert panel called for the integration of traditional knowledge in all phases of impact assessment, and the first nations generally have been concerned that it would treated with an afterthought.

Given the changes that have been made throughout the bill, I am going to amend this new subsection, though, to say, “The report must also set out how indigenous knowledge of indigenous peoples”. That's the way we seem to be drafting the bill, which is a bit nonsensical but I am willing to change the word “traditional” to “indigenous” so that it's consistent throughout the bill. I'm also adding “Subject to section 119”. I'm doing that on the floor because that's a qualifier that Mr. Bossio adds in his amendment, so I'm quite willing to add his qualifier.

Amendment LIB-20 would put in the qualifier, “Subject to section 119”.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Hold on. Well, it's up to the Liberals to do this, but you could change amendment LIB-20 to add it after, to make it new subsection 28(3.2). I think that would accomplish what you're trying to do.

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Well, I'm first on the floor, so I would welcome an amendment from the Liberals to add, “Subject to section 119”, and to change the word “traditional” to “indigenous”.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Sorry. Just to make sure I understand, your subamendment is to add “Subject to section 119” at the beginning of your new subsection 28(3.1)—

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

That's correct—

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

—and to change “traditional”—

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

—and to change the word “traditional” to “indigenous”.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Okay. I am being told that's not the way it goes. You can't amend your own amendment. It has to be from someone else.

You would have had to bring forward an amended amendment.

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

I welcome an amendment from Mr. Bossio.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

I know yesterday you did.

As spoken

Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON

Chair, just to speak to this amendment, I am proposing an amendment, LIB-20. Like this one, it would require assessment reports to describe how indigenous knowledge was used, and once again, as Ms. Duncan has already indicated, by ensuring this is done subject to section 119, the amendment that I'm proposing would also ensure this knowledge is protected. We're perfectly happy to go with our amendment, LIB-20.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Okay, so I—

As spoken

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

We don't want to vote for anything NDP. Let's just vote and make it a Liberal amendment, as long as it gets in.

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Thank you, Linda. Given that the rules are that you can't amend your own amendment, we have amendment NDP-32 as it stands. Shall the amendment carry?

As spoken

11:15 a.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I would like a recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 8; yeas 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

As spoken

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

We're on to LIB-20. Mr. Bossio.

As spoken