Evidence of meeting #25 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 health.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I'm a bit disappointed with Mr. Albas. I had an intervention not too long ago, and he was outraged that I didn't respect the authority of the chair. Him talking over you is not appropriate, and this whole line of questioning is bizarre on a bill that we all agree to—
Conservative
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Well, it wasn't debate when you were speaking, Mr. Albas.
I'm the one who has the floor. You like to interrupt everyone, and that's a little disappointing.
Mr. Chair, I would hope that Mr. Albas would respect your ability to—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I'm not taking time from anyone right now.
Ms. Zann, Mr. Albas would like you to answer the question. If you don't want to answer the question, that's fine. He didn't address it to Dr. Waldron. If Mr. Albas wants, Dr. Waldron can answer the question, but it's his time. If you don't want to answer, then he can take an answer from Dr. Waldron.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you, Chair.
I didn't say I didn't want to answer.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Yes.
To be honest, it's been so long now with all this bickering back and forth, I don't even remember the question. What was the question?
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
I'd be happy to ask it again, MP Zann.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
I said that people need solutions right now, not in two years. This is a strategy. Who will be helped by this bill right now? As I said, we have boil water advisories that need to be fixed.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
I completely agree with you on the boil water advisories. In fact, our government is doing everything it can to stop the pollution going on right now that is preventing people from getting clean water.
Here's the deal. The majority of environmental groups, first nations people and Black communities across this country are cheering for this bill right now. They would like to see it in place, because it will make a difference in their lives, and that's why I'm here.
Liberal
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thanks very much, Chair.
Ms. Zann, congratulations on your bill.
Dr. Waldron, thank you for being here. I'm going to ask you about your bill during my time in questioning.
Ms. Zann, I have a few questions I want to ask you. I'm going to ask you to help me budget the time. We'll see how it goes.
Could you articulate for us to begin with how, if enacted, Bill C-230 would help reduce or eliminate environmental racism in Canada?
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thanks very much, MP Baker.
I started a long time ago with Ingrid Waldron talking about environmental racism in Nova Scotia. We were able to clock and map the entire province where we could see the disproportionate number of communities that were placed on or beside toxic sites. They were indigenous and Black communities.
Dr. Waldron has done further research now and discovered that, in fact, this is the case across Canada. It is our intent with this bill to be able to consult with communities right across the country who are affected and to document what are the health effects, what are the health disaffects that have been produced by the proximity to these toxic places.
If you don't have the data, you can't do anything. Unfortunately, women and racialized people have been basically ignored for too many years. It's time for us to start to collect that data now and then we can act to prevent this from continuing.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thank you.
If you had that data, can you give me an example of how that could lead to resolving this issue of environmental racism?
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Yes. For instance, here in Nova Scotia there was a poster child for environmental racism, which was a pulp mill that was putting toxic waste into a beautiful, once pristine lagoon where indigenous peoples had gathered for picnics and swimming and gathering clams and things for thousands of years. For the last 60 years, it was the containment for effluent from the pulp mill. This was contributing to cancers and breathing problems of people in the area. Our government here in Nova Scotia recognized that, and we passed a bill, the Boat Harbour Act, to close off that effluent and to tell the company that they needed to come up with another solution rather than continuing to pollute that area. That has now happened.
This is the type of thing we need to start looking at. We can't continue putting our waste into fresh water and into places where it is going to be affecting the health of people. The health of people and the environment needs to come first.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Yes, absolutely.
I have two more questions with about two and a half minutes.
I think some of my constituents are watching. Certainly some of yours will be watching, and many of our respective constituents are watching. As you indicated in your remarks, Ms. Zann, not everyone is familiar with this concept of environmental racism. Could you define for us what the term “environmental racism” means for our benefit but also for the benefit of folks watching?
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Yes. I mentioned it at the beginning of my time. It's the disproportionate number of toxic waste sites, dumps and other corporate polluters that are placed on or beside racialized communities, mainly Black and first nations communities, but other communities as well that lack socio-economic power and therefore the power to be able to speak out.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thank you.
During debate on Bill C-230 in the House, the government signalled its support for your bill. The government also highlighted areas where it would seek amendments to address some concerns it had with the bill. These included incorporating principles of environmental justice, which environmental racism is an aspect of; addressing issues that would be more appropriately taken on by the provinces or impact provincial jurisdiction; and providing certain flexibility in the development of a national strategy to avoid prejudging the outcome of the work that would be undertaken. Are you open to amendments to your bill in these areas?
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Yes, absolutely. Anything that will strengthen the bill I'm definitely in favour of.
I also want to recognize that Quebec has a sovereignty that it is concerned about protecting. I would like to address the concerns of the MP from the Bloc Québécois about that and say that I'm definitely open to amendments that would be in keeping with consulting with the provinces and making sure that they feel comfortable with this. I know that they care about environmental issues, so I would hope that they will reconsider their stance on this and come on board.
Thank you.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I don't think I have enough time for another question, but I will just congratulate you on your bill. As someone who has worked on private members' bills in the past, I know how much work they take and how hard it is to move them through the process. You've moved the bill a long way through this process, and I congratulate you on that. You are fighting for equality for all Canadians, as far as I'm concerned, and I really respect that, so thank you.