Environment Committee on Oct. 8th, 2020

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

The next one is on notice of motion:

That a forty-eight (48) hours notice, interpreted as two (2) nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that (1) the notice be filed with the clerk of the Committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; that (2) the motion be distributed to Members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and that (3) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Are there any questions?

Mr. Albas.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

I want to make it clear—and maybe we would want to put this in the motion itself—that Ottawa time should always be the time. Unfortunately, there's no reference to that, so I would ask the clerk if an amendment could be made to clarify that.

I want to apologize to my fellow member from British Columbia, because being there always puts us three hours behind.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Roger, you had your hand up.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Mr. Albas.

The time in this notice for the notices of motion is the time when the clerk's office receives the motion by email. That's always what has been used and what will continue to be used.

If you want to put it in the motion as an amendment, of course the committee can do that, but it's always been understood that 4 p.m. is Ottawa time because it's the time-stamp when I receive the motion in the inbox.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Are you satisfied?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

I think that's fair, as long as everyone knows the rule.

(Motion agreed to)

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

The next is orders of reference from the House respecting bills:

That, in relation to the Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills, (a) the clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those Members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill which is the subject of the said Order which they would suggest that the committee consider; (b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill, and (c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Longfield.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Are there any questions? Hearing none, I think that is agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Longfield.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

I have run out of routine motions, unless there are any others.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Now I guess you need to ask for approval of the total amended...with whatever amendments there are.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

I would ask for the total package with amendments to be approved by the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Raj, you have your hand up.

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I want to make a motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Is this the proper time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Yes, any time is a proper time for motions.

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

The motion is that, pursuant to Standing Order 81(4) and the order of reference of September 30, 2020, the committee consider the main estimates and invite the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and senior officials to appear in view of the study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Do you want to explain why?

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

It is important that we have the minister here to give us the estimates, to give us the financial review of where the department is at and where it is going. It is always good to start any session with a meeting with the minister so we understand where the department's thinking is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Are there any questions?

Yes, Mr. Longfield, go ahead.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

We've missed a period, so to get this going forward, I agree that this is something we should get on top of right away, to catch us up.