Evidence of meeting #4 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 supply.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you.
The next point is “That the clerk circulates the suggested working plan (“Upcoming ENVI meetings”) for the committee’s consideration”. Then there's “That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee adopt the motion of Ms. Collins regarding the enforcement of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, as its next study after the zero-emission vehicles study”.
You have read Ms. Collins' motion. Are there any questions?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Then there's, “That, after this study has been concluded, the committee adopt and undertake the undertake the motion of Mr. Jeneroux, as amended by the subcommittee, regarding Plastics”. You have read the motion. Are there any questions?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Then there's “And that, after this study has been concluded, the committee adopt and undertake a motion from the members of the Liberal Party”.
If you look at it, you have two timetables. One is for one meeting per week. The other is for two meetings per week. One is a reality, the other reflects our optimism. If we get two meetings per week, we would be fortunate to do more studies and get more witnesses and move along the agenda. But at the moment, what it looks like is that on November 4—which is an additional meeting we've all agreed to—we're having the minister come before us for the main estimates. On the 16th we have a briefing with the Commissioner of the Environment and the Auditor General. December 7 is where we plug in Madam Collins' meeting, and hopefully we move forward from there.
Are there any questions?
Mr. Albas.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I just need two clarifications, please. Number one, we obviously had votes today, which changed our meeting somewhat. I assume that we may have votes again on Wednesday. I would just like to make sure that the invitation is quite clear that theminister is invited, but we don't want to have a case where he says, “I was ready at 3:30 but you were all in the House voting”. I would really like to make sure that we do have the minister for an hour.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Mr. Albas, the minister votes as well. I have been given assurance that the minister will be here for one hour no matter what. Are you comfortable with that?
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Even if we start late, he'll be there for an hour with us?
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Furthermore, is the deputy minister going to be joining the minister?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
That I am not sure of.
Mr. Alexandre, is the deputy minister joining?
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Okay, that's good because he's an accounting officer so I'm glad to hear that.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Yes. It's still about the Monday problem. I mentioned this at the beginning. So far, we've always had votes in the House on Mondays, and it cuts into the committee's meeting time.
Is it always going to be like that? Do you have some sort of plan so that we don't lose a half-hour with the witnesses every single time?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Madame Pauzé, in a democracy any party can demand a vote. We have to vote; that is our mandate. We have been very consultative and congenial in saying that we would expand it by half an hour. We've had three rounds. The witnesses have been very good. They have submitted their statements and been focused. We've been able to get questions from everyone. I don't think anybody missed any questions. That's going to be our life; that's normal.
Are there any other questions?
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
I would like to say something.
I am not suggesting that we don't vote. I am saying that we should move the meeting time or alternate with another committee so ours isn't always the one that is penalized, especially given that we haven't met since mid-March.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you, but the committee's schedule is adopted by the House, and that's what we have received. For other committees, if it's a Wednesday, there's going to be a vote, and committees on Wednesday get into the same trouble. We will have to live with it. I think we've been very good in asking, “Can we expand it? Can we do this?” We have been congenial. I think we have learned to live with it. It is not a mammoth task. We will play it by ear.
Is there anyone else?
Therefore, I need somebody to move the motion.
Mr. Albas, could you move the motion for the adoption of the subcommittee report?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you. All in favour?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Madam Chair, just for protocol—and again, there are many different ways to do this, and clearly you had consent there—we should be seeking unanimous consent or a recorded vote for the purposes of these meetings.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
I would normally do so. Ms. Collins likes unanimous consents. I knew it would be unanimous; nobody was posing any problems. If it isn't, then we would go to a recorded vote. I would have known had you raised you hand, and then it would have been a recorded vote.
Mr. Redekopp, are you raising your hand to say something?
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
On the subject of unanimous consent, I put a notice of motion out, quite a simple one, I think, that we have our meetings televised and that you have the ability to waive the requirement if there's an issue with that. I can't imagine anyone would have an issue with this. I was just wondering if we could get unanimous consent to put that motion through today.