Environment Committee on Feb. 27th, 2019

[Ed Fast]

Mr. Chair, my point of order involves the respect that each one of us as members of Parliament shows each other at this table. I've been here for some 13-odd years. I've participated in a number of different committees. We paid attention to the work that was being done. I am noticing that here at this table we have members who are plugged in with earbuds, presumably listening—

[William Amos, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Listening intently to you.

[The Chair]

What's the point of order here?

[Ed Fast]

The point is the respect that needs to be shown to each other as members of Parliament working at a committee collaboratively. It is a high degree of disrespect to have members at this table listening to something else. I assume it is the proceedings of another committee at which the former justice minister is appearing.

The bottom line is that we still have a member reading something.... Before, it was a newspaper. It was pretty clear that it was a newspaper. This is about respect. I want to put this on the record here. We have Liberal members at this table—

[The Chair]

Okay. This isn't a point of order.

[Ed Fast]

—who are supposed to engage—

[The Chair]

This is not a point of order, so I'm going to move on.

[Ed Fast]

—in the discussion around this table.

[The Chair]

This is not a point of order. I'm—

[Ed Fast]

What's the basis upon which you're ruling that this is not a point of order?

[The Chair]

Point me to a clause, a line, a paragraph in the manual. That's what a point of order has to be called on.

[Ed Fast]

You've ruled my point not to be a point of order, so it's your responsibility to show this committee—

[The Chair]

I'm asking you to to direct me to what line, what paragraph, what section is—

[Ed Fast]

I can tell you that the privileges of being a member of Parliament are accorded to each one of us and we are to use them wisely. We're supposed to show each other respect, both in the House and at committee. What I see happening here at this table...Liberal members actually engaged long distance in other committee proceedings that have nothing to do with the matters that are before us today.

[The Chair]

Mr. Fast, I'm going to offer the observation—

[Ed Fast]

I've made my point. You know who I'm speaking to—

[The Chair]

—that every one of the committee members here from time to time has focused on things other than the matter at hand—

[Ed Fast]

I look forward to your ruling. I've made my point, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair]

—so I'm going to move into the opening statements.

I believe we're going to have the department go first.

Ms. Najm, if you'd like to start with your opening comments, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Carol Najm, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Financial Branch, Department of the Environment]

Good afternoon. I'm pleased to be here with you today to discuss the 2018-19 supplementary estimates (B) and the 2019-20 interim estimates for Environment and Climate Change Canada.

With me are Matt Jones, the assistant deputy minister of the pan-Canadian framework implementation office, and John Moffet, the ADM of environmental protection.

The supplementary estimates (B) include a net reduction of $1.8 million in funding that is seeking parliamentary approval. This is resulting from $1.8 million in transfers between Environment and Climate Change Canada and other government departments. This represents a 0.1% decrease in the authorities to date, bringing the proposed authorities to $1.66 billion.

Our supplementary estimates (B) include three transfers for Environment and Climate Change Canada and other government departments. There is $160,000 from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Parks Canada for the Assembly of First Nations Elders Council. There is $59,500 for the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for improving the capacity of northern communities to predict changing ice conditions. There is $2 million for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to support the pan-Canadian framework on clean growth and climate change.

In addition, there is a transfer of $6.8 million from the operating vote 1 to grants and contributions vote 10 included in these estimates. This will allow Environment and Climate Change Canada to realign its funding with emerging priorities. These priorities include $5 million in additional funding for the quick start component of the Canada nature fund and $1.8 million for the indigenous guardians program.

Originally, the department approved to fund a list of proposals for both the quick start component and the indigenous guardians pilot program. Nonetheless, both of these initiatives have also identified a number of eligible proposals that have exceeded existing funding. In order to support these additional proposals that would benefit from immediate funding, Environment and Climate Change Canada has determined that the most effective way to meet this mandate commitment is by mobilizing external stakeholders through the use of grants and contributions. Therefore, Environment and Climate Change Canada proactively reallocated a total of $6.8 million from within existing reference levels to ensure that these additional projects can move forward.

The 2019-20 interim estimates include an overview of spending required for the first three months of the fiscal year as it compares to the 2018-19 main estimates and the estimates to date. Environment and Climate Change Canada is requesting funding of $426.8 million through these interim estimates, which includes $209.3 million in operating expenditures, $20.6 million in capital expenditures and $196.9 million in grants and contributions for April to June 2019 to cover financial requirements during the first three months of the fiscal year until a full supply can be attained through the 2019-20 main estimates.

Funding requested through the 2019-20 interim estimates will allow Environment and Climate Change Canada to provide national leadership for a wide range of environmental issues, including action on clean growth and climate change. It will also allow the department to continue its engagement in activities aimed at preventing and managing pollution, conserving nature and predicting weather and environmental conditions by engaging our strategic partners, including provinces, territories and indigenous peoples.

I hope this summary of our initiatives included in the 2018-19 supplementary estimates and the 2019-20 interim estimates for Environment and Climate Change Canada provides this committee with the insight members have been seeking.

Thank you.

[The Chair]

Thank you.

Before we go on, we have just heard quite impassioned comments about the need for respect at this table, and I'm just wondering if all the members want to be here to hear the opening statements or if all parties are willing to multi-task and catch the comments not at the table.

Before I go into the next round of witnesses.... I see Mr. Fast has left. I don't know if we're expecting somebody to come in so that the opposition will have their full round of representatives here to be part of this discussion. I'm trying to balance the messages that I've been hearing throughout this meeting so far. If we want to have a respectful discussion, I would ask that everybody sit and that perhaps when our witnesses are speaking we be engaged in the testimony they bring forward.

Now we'll go to the Environmental Assessment Agency.

[Alan Kerr, Vice-President, Corporate Services, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm Alan Kerr, Vice-President of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer. I'm joined by my colleague—

[The Chair]

Just a second, sir.

Mr. Warawa, you have a point of order.

[Mark Warawa]

On a point of order, page 1016 states the following:

When a standing committee examines estimates, it is free to arrange its own proceedings. Ordinarily, committees find it convenient to examine the votes assigned to them in groups....

They often or usually consist of a number of votes under one heading in the estimates, and occasionally both simultaneously. It continues:

Committees generally begin their examination of the estimates by hearing from the Minister or Parliamentary Secretary...for the activities and programs dealt with in the votes, who is usually accompanied by senior departmental officials.

I don't see a heading under supplementary estimates, so I've made an assumption that estimates and supplementary estimates are managed by the same policies.

The direction from this committee was right in order with the guidelines, with the policies of Parliament. That has not happened, Chair, so I'm going to move that—

[The Chair]

You can't move a motion on a point of order. You'll have to wait until you have the floor.