Evidence of meeting #1 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Alexandre Roger

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON

I'm sorry, Madame Pauzé.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

That's not a problem.

All those in favour of the motion—

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Madam Chair.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Yes, Mr. Albas.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I did have a further question. Unfortunately, I only heard....

I was looking for a timetable. Maybe you could read the motion as amended and I'll see whether I'm satisfied. I do think it might be missing another piece.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Okay.

Mr. Saini, would you like to read your motion and incorporate Mr. Albas's amendment?

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

Sure.

The motion is as follows: 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 the Environment and Climate Change and senior officials to appear in view of the study.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

I think it was “no later than November 6”. That was the amended motion.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

And “no later than November 6”.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Mr. Albas.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I do beg the indulgence of the committee, because I'm an imperfect human being, but I do believe it's always helpful to indicate that the expectation would be for one hour with the minister and for the second hour with officials so that we can ask technical questions as follow-ups.

If that's a friendly amendment, and that can be incorporated into that, I would just look to the member. If not, I can make the relevant motion to amend.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

No, that's fine.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Mr. Clerk, have you taken in the friendly amendment?

The additional amendment Mr. Albas has given is that the first hour be the minister and the second hour be the departmental officials.

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

If the minister wants to stay because we're such a great group, I'm okay with that.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Okay. Now that we have the amendments, I will ask for a vote on the motion itself.

Are all in favour of the motion as amended? Do I need to have it reread? No? Okay.

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Good. Now that we're done with that, I will go to Madame Pauzé first....

Mr. Albas, did you have your hand up for something else?

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Yes. It was for a different motion. I'll wait my turn.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Okay.

Madame Pauzé.

12:05 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC

I would first like to try to understand. Motions must still be tabled 48 hours in advance. I want to move some motions now, but can I do so, just as Mr. Albas did? I have to say that the organization of the committee's work is a bit of a problem for me. Can I move my motions right away so that, as we said at the beginning, the subcommittee can discuss the dates on which they will be studied? Must I only address a more general subject and see where the committee is going?

It is more a point of order to try to understand what is happening.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Madame Pauzé, as we are in committee business, you are allowed to present your motion.

Ms. Pauzé, what is your motion?

12:05 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC

In that case, I will present two motions right now.

The first concerns a decarbonization plan:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development undertake a study and make recommendations on the development of a decarbonization plan with a view to ensuring the energy transition toward implementing renewable energies; that, to do so, the Committee invite key stakeholders from various innovative renewable energy sectors, such as solar energy, geothermal energy, and wind energy; that a report be presented to the House of Commons; and that six (6) meetings be allocated for this study.

I know that Mr. Roger already has the motion and can give it to you.

My second motion is the following:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development undertake a study in connection with the desire, expressed in the Speech from the Throne, to put in place a plan that will make it possible to surpass Canada's climate objectives and that to do so, the Committee examine the feasibility of zero-emission federal legislation, that a report be presented to the House of Commons and that four meetings be devoted to it.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Thank you.

Mr. Albas, do you have a question on that motion, or do you have a new motion to present?

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

I have my own motion to present, so I will wait until the correct time. I am a little confused, though, because there are two separate motions and I wonder if the member is giving notice of motion. I look to you, Madam Chair, to explain which motion is on the table for discussion.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

That is something I will have to ask Madame Pauzé to clarify.

Mr. Longfield, are you asking a question on this motion?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON

I think we're just giving notices of motion, but I will let Madame Pauzé speak to that.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi

Madame Pauzé, would you like to explain which one you want the committee to consider?