Evidence of meeting #2 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 commissioner.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
I'm asking for a point of clarification, Madam Chair.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Did Ms. Collins imply that she only wants to spend two hours with us every week?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
It's a joke, Mr. Schiefke.
Is there any other discussion on the amendment?
Ms. Pauzé, do you agree with the amendment?
October 19th, 2020 / 4:20 p.m.
Bloc
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
I would ask the clerk to read the motion as amended so we can then take a vote.
Alexandre.
4:20 p.m.
The Clerk
I don't have the text of the amendment. I wasn't able to write it all as I was working, so it wouldn't be possible for me to reread it with the amendment.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay. We'll put Mr. Schiefke on the spot.
Mr. Schiefke, you probably have the motion and the amended motion. If you wouldn't mind reading it into the record, go slowly so that everybody understands, and then we can take a vote on it.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Madam Chair, I'll read the amended motion for everyone. Would you like me to read it once in French and once in English, or does it matter?
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
No, because the translators will translate whichever language you choose.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Okay.
The motion in French, with the changes that we proposed, reads as follows:
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 further measures that could be taken to incentivize the production and purchase of zero-emission vehicles, including a zero-emission vehicle law; that a report be presented to the House of Commons and that four meetings be devoted to it starting at the next meeting of this committee with the appearance of Environment and Climate Change Canada officials and other relevant officials and stakeholders.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you, Mr. Schiefke.
I got ahead of myself. I should have asked for a vote on the amendment.
I will ask for a vote on the amendment. If I have confused the living daylights out of the committee and you want the amendment read, let me know. Put your hand up if you need Mr. Schiefke to again read the amendment.
No? Okay. The first vote is on the amendment.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
Now we go to the vote on the motion as amended.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
I have Madam Pauzé first, and then Ms. Collins.
Madame Pauzé, go ahead.
4:25 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank all my colleagues for supporting this motion. Of course, I'm counting on everyone's good faith to ensure that, as of the first meeting, the officials invited from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the other officials in attendance will be people who are involved in creating a zero-emission law. This is even more important following the announcement made two weeks ago by Mr. Ford, meaning the Ontario government, and the federal government.
We spoke at length to achieve unanimous consent. I'm very pleased, and I want to thank you. We're counting on everyone's good faith to work effectively on this issue.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Madame Pauzé, normally every party would submit a list of witnesses. Therefore, if you have a list of witnesses that you would like to hear from, submit their names to the clerk.
I would suggest that all parties—the Bloc, the NDP, the Conservatives and the Liberals—do submit. Then, if we can, we will have a brief meeting of the steering committee to streamline how many witnesses can come in four meetings.
Are we in agreement?
There don't seem to be any objections.
Alexandre, could you give a deadline? Could you send a note to everybody? If we are going to study it starting on October 26, we will need the list ASAP, and then we can start sifting through it.
4:30 p.m.
The Clerk
I think Wednesday would give the witnesses appropriate head time to appear before the committee.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay.
Today is Monday. By tomorrow, Tuesday, give a list of the witnesses you would like, the top witnesses you'd really like to get, and then the clerk will get in touch with them. Okay?
4:30 p.m.
The Clerk
Wednesday at five o'clock would be my deadline, if possible, if the committee agrees with me.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay. I think it is important. We have a very tight timeline, and the turnaround for you will be difficult. Otherwise, the witnesses won't turn up.
With that, I'll turn to Madam Collins.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Madam Chair, I have a motion. I've sent it to the clerk. It reads as follows:
That, for the fifth meeting of the committee, the committee invite the Auditor General of Canada and the Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development, to provide a briefing on the office, the role and the appointment of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development that they will be given up to thirty (30) minutes for the briefing and that the clerk ask the witnesses to provide written material in both official languages in advance of the meeting.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Sometimes that happens and you just can't change channels. I get it.
I also sit on public accounts, where we have the auditor general for the environment present and we have the Auditor General for Canada present. Normally, we would have the commissioner of the environment come and present to this committee. Would it not make sense for us to just have the commissioner of the environment come before us to talk about the report that will be tabled on October 27?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
I certainly want to speak in favour of this motion. I think not just the commissioner of the environment but also the Auditor General coming would help set the stage for where we're going in the next few months in terms of our committee. I certainly will speak in favour of that.
Again, I'd leave it up to the subcommittee to determine the timing of that. We want to make sure we get the minister. Whether it's the fourth meeting or fifth meeting or whatever it is, again, I would leave it up to the steering committee to do that.