Thank you.
Evidence of meeting #37 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 video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #37 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 video is available from Parliament.
5:50 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
I would say that amendment G-9 is rather inconsequential, but we're going to support it. So I am taking the same position as Mr. Albas and Mr. Redekopp. I say that it is inconsequential just because it gives no time frame. So I invite the Conservatives to vote for amendments BQ-15, which sets a time frame by asking for an annual progress report. We would then have a specific time frame, because a report will have to be produced each year.
I will also support the amendment for the transparency reasons that Mr. Albas described. Clearly, the public must be given the key information that will allow them to make choices and correctly assess where the country is in its fight against climate change.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Mr. Ngan, to my colleague's question, would it be reasonable to amend this to include some language saying that no later than a year after the consultation has been initiated the report should be published on the appropriate website?
5:55 p.m.
Director General, Horizontal Policy, Engagement and Coordination, Department of the Environment
In terms of the public engagement, if it is conducted by the advisory body, they will be including that information on an annual basis. Whether it is appropriate or not to include a timeline will be decided by this committee. From our end, there are normal practices. Once it's done, information will be made available, subject to compiling, meeting bilingual requirements and accessibility on the Internet.
To answer your question, Mr. Albas, on whether the request is reasonable, I would turn to the committee to decide.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
That's great.
Therefore, Mr. Chair, I'm going to move a subamendment. Just at the end, where it has “section 13”, instead of a period we will just put a comma and add “and that the report be published no later than 12 months after the consultation period begins.”
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Madam Clerk, do you then send it to all the members of the committee including Ms. May? How does that work? I think this is the first time we've actually put one in writing.
5:55 p.m.
The Clerk
I believe it will be in only one language. I don't believe—
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
That's okay, because we'll read it and the interpreters can interpret.
5:55 p.m.
The Clerk
That's excellent, so as soon as I get it, I will send it to the P9 account of everyone present in the meeting.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Albas, your hand is up, but you've already spoken to it. Is that right?
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Yes, I've spoken to it, but I was doing what you asked me to. I'll put my hand down, but I was just doing what you requested.
5:55 p.m.
The Clerk
It will just take me a minute to prepare the email.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Okay.
I have a proposal. Why don't we break until 6:05, and when we come back we will deal with Mr. Albas' subamendment?
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Let's do that. I'll just pause the meeting. We'll come back at 6:05 and pick up from here. Thanks.
6:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
It's 6:05 p.m. Everyone has the subamendment.
Does anyone else want to speak to this?
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Can I ask that we make sure everyone has had a chance to look at it, Mr. Chair?
6:05 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thanks, Mr. Albas, for bringing this forward.
I think this potentially creates an unintended situation, because there's no definition of when the consultation process must begin. You could run into a situation whereby the minister begins the consultation six months before setting the target, in which case the minister would not have to publish the report until six months after the target was set. I think everyone on this committee would agree that it's reasonable for the minister to publish the report at least concurrently with the setting of the target, since that's what the consultation informs.
I'll be voting against it for that reason. I support the sentiment. I think most Canadians would expect that if consultations take place leading to the setting of a target, and a report is required to be published, then that report would be published at least concurrently with the setting of that target.