Environment Committee on Oct. 8th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Collins, don't answer until we have Mr. Jeneroux, Mr. Albas and Madame Pauzé.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Thanks, Madam Chair.

Mine is more of a clarification question for you. I've been at many meetings where you have been chair, and you've always run a good meeting on time. I've only put this meeting in for two hours in my calendar. I'm curious if we're extending it or not. I have another meeting that I would have to alter, but again, I am just deferring to you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Jeneroux, no, we go by the clock and we will be ending the meeting on time. My clock says we have three more minutes, so I can allow Mr. Albas a question, and Madame Pauzé as well.

Go ahead, Mr. Albas.

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

Madam Chair, I had my hand up so that I could put forward my own motion afterward, but it does not look like we will have sufficient time to even deal with this one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Pauzé, go ahead.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I am obviously inviting members to vote in favour of my motion. That said, what I want is to get results. I do not want to cast a broad net and study everything. Instead, we should be focusing on getting results by letting Canadians take action that will address greenhouse gas emissions in a sector which, in my opinion, produces the same level of emissions as the fossil fuel sector. I am speaking of the transportation sector. At least, that is the case in Quebec. I believe that this sector's emissions are about the same as those of other sectors.

Therefore, we want to conduct a study that will get results without monopolizing the committee's time because we want there to be time for other motions. That is why I am proposing that we focus on a sector where Canadians can take action.

I will stop there as I know that time is passing and the meeting is coming to an end.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I need a minute for myself.

First we will go to Mr. Baker.

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Ms. Pauzé, I fully recognize your intention. I agree that emissions from transportation are significant, no matter whether this sector is ranked as the first or second largest emitter.

However, I agree with Mr. Saini. When be began this discussion, I thought that you were proposing a study of the feasibility of a bill that would help us achieve a net zero emission target. That is what I understood. I agree that if we were to do that, we could—

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Baker, I'll have to stop you there.

There are good discussions going on. We will have to continue committee business at the next meeting, whenever we are allowed. Hopefully, if the minister is coming, we will have the minister and the departmental officials, but Ms. Collins's amendment to the motion is the point of discussion that we are leaving it at. Once that is over, we will handle Madame Pauzé's motion as agreed upon.

Do you agree?

[A member]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you all for such a wonderful discussion.

The meeting is adjourned.