Evidence of meeting #114 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 see.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Olivier Champagne  Legislative Clerk, House of Commons
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
Jeff Labonté  Assistant Deputy Minister, Major Projects Management Office, Department of Natural Resources
Terence Hubbard  Director General, Petroleum Resources Branch, Department of Natural Resources

7:05 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

This is about the energy regulator. It's not reconciliation.

7:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

And do you know what? I think it's an excellent thought, but as much as I might think that's a good idea, I think future ministers would ensure there was always balance, and they're not precluded from ensuring that indigenous representation remains a minority.

7:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Okay, I think we're good. Your point was made.

7:05 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

Yes, thank you.

7:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

It's a recorded vote.

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

Now we're on PV-91.

Ms. May.

7:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Again, this is to the same point, but phrased differently and in a different proposed subsection.

7:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

I think we've had some discussion on that.

7:05 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I'd like to have a recorded vote.

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

7:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Now we're going to try a different way. Go ahead, Ms. May.

7:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Actually, if we're going to PV-92, that was not allowed because it was in direct conflict with Linda Duncan's last amendment, so I now move to PV-93.

7:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

No, but it didn't get adopted, so you're okay.

7:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Am I okay to proceed?

7:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

Yes.

7:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Oh, I misunderstood what you said when you introduced her amendment for a vote.

7:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

It's my fault in the way I said it. It is “if adopted”, not “moved”. It's my fault, sorry. It wasn't adopted. You're good to go.

7:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Well, then like Lazarus risen again, let me point out that amendment PV-92 would allow the Governor in Council to ensure we had a board of diverse expertise, including—and I think this is really important—“relevant experience and expertise in climate science”. That would be phenomenal to have on a CER board, as well as renewable energy, community development, and an understanding of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples.

Of course, this would be a broad range of experience and expertise not limited to these, but we'd draw attention to these because they've been so significantly lacking in the past.

7:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

We're trying to get at this a few different ways.

7:10 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

I'd like a recorded vote.

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

7:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

We're going to try PV-93.

7:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Madam Chair, this is dealing with the issue of time limits on how long a person can serve on a board. The current legislation at clause 10, proposed subsection 21(3), puts a time limit in place for how long the CEO can serve, but at the moment directors seem to be able to be appointed for an indefinite period, and that doesn't seem like a good idea.

If we're going to put a time limit on the CEO, why do we not put a time limit on directors? I don't see a rationale for it, and on that basis I'm proposing, at line 11 on page 100, a proposed subsection 15(2.1), that reads:

(2.1) No director is to serve in any capacity if they have served a combination of terms totalling ten years.

7:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

That's clear.

7:10 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

Madam Chair, I have a question for Ms. May. Is it the intention that if a director has served for 10 years and they stepped down for a year, they would not qualify at any time in the future to rejoin?

7:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

That's an interesting hypothetical. The way it was drafted was to ensure that a person who has served 10 years cannot continue to serve. Given your hypothetical and the way this is drafted, the answer would be yes. If you stepped down for a year merely to refresh yourself and stepped back on, you would be seen to have overstayed your term. There would be a term limit.

7:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte

I think the same would apply when thinking of the CEO under the current drafting.

7:10 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC

Well, I can't support that.