Evidence of meeting #39 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.
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Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
The commissioner has a wide range of discretion, absolutely, and as Ms. May observed, does write an annual report on topics of his or her choosing within the confines of the broad mandate, so, yes, the commissioner could issue a report in 2023, 2024, 2025. Of course, what this does is make it absolutely mandatory that the commissioner do so.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Okay. It's like when you have a brand new car—you're going to drive it. I appreciate the answer.
The second question is that there's no funding in this legislation for that. We've seen the government draw criticism because it has not funded the Auditor General sufficiently. Does Bill C-12 give any extra resources? Obviously, if the environment commissioner were forced to do this—and as I said, they would probably do it anyway—that would draw resources from other activities. Is there any money in this?
Director General, Horizontal Policy, Engagement and Coordination, Department of the Environment
John, I can answer.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
Thanks, Vincent. Yes.
Director General, Horizontal Policy, Engagement and Coordination, Department of the Environment
The last time the commissioner of environment and sustainable development released a report was in 2017. The next report, highly likely, will be released between now and 2024.
Before the tabling of the bill, Environment and Climate Change Canada conducted consultations with the office of the commissioner of environment and sustainable development. They are comfortable with the existing reference levels they have for continuing to conduct the work. We have not heard of any concerns or issues relating to whether or not their existing resources can support this work. To make a long story short, just to answer your question, based on our consultations there are no red flags.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Actually, Mr. Ngan, you were very [Technical difficulty—Editor] and you should be commended for that, but the question was, is there any additional money in Bill C-12 now that the government is making this mandatory through this amendment?
Director General, Horizontal Policy, Engagement and Coordination, Department of the Environment
Based on the consultation with the office, we think no additional resources are required to discharge this role.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Okay, but that means they're going to have to cut something else, because you're making it mandatory—not you, personally, but this amendment. Are there any additional monies levied? I do know you can write into legislation a particular sum.
Director General, Horizontal Policy, Engagement and Coordination, Department of the Environment
Mr. Albas, I agree with where you're coming from, your concern about resources. That said, they have not expressed any concerns about using existing reference levels to discharge this. I think this is a hypothetical scenario. You're asking whether additional resources should be given to them through this legislation, so—
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
I'm just worried that something's going to get cut. I do appreciate your trying to answer the question, though I don't think you did. As far as I can see, there's nothing written in here to outline that there will be an extra allocation in this legislation.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
You're right; the short answer is no. The government has not allocated additional money at this time for the CESD to fulfill these roles. You're correct.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 7; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 24 as amended agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)
(Clause 25 agreed to on division)
(On clause 26)
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Mr. Chair, I'd like to introduce an amendment to add new subclause 26(2) to Bill C-12, the Canadian net-zero emissions accountability act. This motion clarifies that any regulation made by the Governor in Council under the act “must align with the international standards to which Canada adheres”.
This improves the act by ensuring that the regulations made under the act align with Canada's international commitments. It's something that we've heard a lot about.
(Amendment agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 26 as amended agreed to on division)
(On clause 27)
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Mr. Chair, this is just a minor amendment.
We sent the language to the clerk in both official languages, I hope, and she can correct me if I'm incorrect. Hopefully, we can send that around.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Excellent.
It's amending clause 27 by replacing line 20, on page 10, with the following line—and I won't read it out, but I'll explain it.
The amendment removes “subsection 7(3)” from clause 27 and clarifies that the documents produced under the act are not subject to the Statutory Instruments Act. The Statutory Instruments Act provides for the examination, registration, publication and parliamentary scrutiny of regulations or other similar instruments, and these requirements are not appropriate for the types of documents produced under the act.
Proposed subsection 7(3) is removed from clause—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
With whatever you're saying, could you say it slowly? The interpreters are having trouble.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Sure. I'm happy to go a little slower.
I wasn't reading the amendment; I was just giving the rationale.
It's a very brief amendment. I don't know the similarity in French and English, but I—
