Environment Committee on March 10th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Let's just review what we agreed.

We agreed that we would bring the press release back here for approval. It is quite fine, if we all agree, that we might.... I mean, it is the way we had agreed in priorities, but it is clear that there is some thought that we might address what the minister has asked us to do, and that we might want to entertain some other approach.

We did have complete agreement on how we were going to proceed, but already we have the minister putting something on the table that we weren't entertaining at the time. I am okay if we defer the press release. We don't want it to go too late, because we do want people to know that we're here discussing these items and they may want to come and talk to us about it. I don't want to leave it too long, but I'm okay if it waits to be decided. I don't know how you all feel.

It's the committee's choice.

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

It's your press release and your name is on the bottom of it. If you're okay with that, then I'm okay with that.

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

It's wrong now, though. The press release is just being modified to represent the change in our priorities, right?

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

If it's agreed, yes.

I am okay to make it wait, because we agreed to have that discussion. I think it's appropriate to wait.

Can you repeat the motion?

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

It was simply to adopt the first report from the committee and that was it.

Hold off on the press release until the subcommittee meets on Tuesday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Okay.

Are we all in favour of that? Does anyone else want to talk to it?

[William Amos, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

With regard to the final sentence, about the information about appearing before the committee to testify, we all know that nobody at all in the world will ever look at our website.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[William Amos, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

But this press release will be something unique, right? Especially if it gets some coverage, it might generate some interest in what we are doing.

I'd like the section where it invites information about appearing or submitting a brief to maybe be a little more explicit, and to say, listen, if anyone is interested in making submissions on these topics—

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

You're suggesting we make some changes.

If there are other changes that you might want to do on the press release, can you send them in? We'll change those in preparation for that Tuesday the 22nd for discussion.

We are now trying to get this motion approved.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Thank you very much. It's been an excellent meeting.

Have a great day. The meeting is adjourned.