Environment Committee on June 7th, 2016

[Andrea Peart]

Yes.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Is that part of the reason that the renovation is happening?

[Andrea Peart]

To the best of my knowledge.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

On a point or order, what is the relevance of that particular comment?

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

The relevance, Madam Chair, on a point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

I think it's speculation.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Yes, you're speculating as to why the Prime Minister is not living in his house at 24 Sussex.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Okay.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Hold on. I would like to address the point of order, if I may.

The question was around a registry about public buildings in Canada. One of the buildings that has actually been identified as containing asbestos is the Parliament of Canada, along with the residence of this Prime Minister and the last prime minister.

One of the encouragements that came through the National Capital Commission to do the renovation 15 years ago was the exposure to asbestos of any prime minister and their family. I don't think that's any particular shot at the Prime Minister for why he's chosen not to live there. I would encourage him not to live there and expose himself and his family to it.

I'm thinking that Mark is looking for politics in this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

No.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

I'm not looking for politics. I made a point of order, and then Mr. Cullen got into debate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

He answered it.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

My point of order was with respect to relevance. I didn't think that the comment had anything to do with the reason we're sitting here discussing this today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Okay. Well, I'm hearing that it is.

I think we cut in there and have just a few minutes, but we are over time, so please—

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Very quickly, on the precautionary principle on bioaccumulation, the bioaccumulation principle is that things accumulate over time, particularly in the fat cells of people.

Where does Canada stand with respect to other developed countries and limits on chemicals that we know bioaccumulate over time and become increasingly toxic?

[Andrea Peart]

On bioaccumulation, our standard is higher. We have higher thresholds than the U.S. or the EU.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

We allow more?

[Andrea Peart]

Correct. There is lower protection.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

We have lower protection.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

I really appreciate the line of questioning.

I appreciate all the work that you've done preparing for today and answering all the questions. You've given us a lot to think about and a lot to consider as we move forward on our assessment of what changes we might do and how we might improve the act.

There were some questions put to you to answer. If you wouldn't mind, if you could bring or email those responses to the clerk, she has to get all of them translated. When people send links to other websites and other things, it gets really complicated. Could you make sure that it isn't links to 150 multiple-page documents and it's a bit concise? It would be very helpful for that information to get back to committee in a translated manner.

Thank you very much, again, to each of you.

We're going to take a very short break, as we clear the room for a closed committee work session.

Thanks again, and thanks for the information that is coming. We appreciate it.

[Proceedings continue in camera]