Evidence of meeting #41 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.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
The Bloc Québécois is very happy to see amendment LIB‑2. We will be voting in favour of it. You know how important the jurisdictions of each party, whether Quebec, the provinces or the federal government, are to us. In fact, when we saw the bill, we did not understand how we could submit such an amendment, because there are so many eloquent examples where the federal legislation is much weaker than the Quebec legislation, in our opinion.
I think our witness, Mr. Gaudreault, also talked about this and gave us some examples.
I just want to say that we will be voting in favour of amendment LIB‑2, because, as a priority, Canada needs to look at protecting people from climate change, pollution issues, health impacts, and all of the inequities that characterize its environmental work. But it's not Canada's job to examine what the provinces are doing. The wording of clause 3(3)(d), “assess the administration and enforcement” was exaggerated.
So we are very pleased and will vote in favour of amendment LIB‑2.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
There are two things I noticed in the amendments that have been proposed, and since we have Ms. Zann with us, I thought I would just ask for her reflections on them as the sponsor of the bill.
The first one is the addition of the concept of environmental justice.
Liberal
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Yes. We're talking about the amendment to clause 3, which covers a lot of ground. I'll make some general comments and then try to be quiet for the rest of the vote.
The first one was the addition of the concept of environmental justice, which I understand is more parallel to the legislation in the United States and the work they've done. I'm keen for Ms. Zann's reflections on that, seeing as this is her bill.
The second one was the change to the word “redress”, which featured prominently in the original drafting of the bill. I note that this amendment brings in the wording “to assess, prevent and address environmental racism”, which has a slightly different feel but perhaps captures the spirit of what Ms. Zann originally intended.
If it's in order, I'd love to hear from the sponsor.
Liberal
Lenore Zann Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS
Thank you so much.
I definitely believe including environmental justice is so important. That is at the heart of this bill, but I also think it's so important to use the words “environmental racism”, because that's what it's also about. I think this ties in nicely with changes to CEPA, and it's a perspective that we now need to use when looking at decisions that will impact people and their health.
Therefore, I'm very happy about that, and I was very firm that addressing environmental racism needs to come first, before environmental justice, in that order.
In regard to the other question, my original bill in Nova Scotia, which I tried to get passed four times, was an act addressing environmental racism. I think this title includes all the things that need to be included, and it has a forward-looking view to make sure that, from now on, we don't continue down the same old path we've followed for too many years.
I'm actually quite satisfied with it. Thank you for asking.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Before we vote on LIB-2, as amended twice, I would like to say the following: If LIB-2 is adopted, NDP-1 cannot be moved, due to a line conflict.
Second, if amendment LIB‑2 is adopted, amendments LIB‑1, LIB‑4 and LIB‑5 are also adopted, since they are consequential.
If amendment LIB‑2 is defeated, LIB‑1, LIB‑3, LIB‑4, and LIB‑5 are also defeated, since they are consequential. I just wanted to inform you of the consequences in both cases.
We can now proceed to the vote.
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Chair, I have a question.
It seems to me that Bill C‑15 states that the laws will automatically be consistent with the United Nations Declaration. So is there any point in adopting Mr. Bachrach's amendment, and will we have to bring his amendment back to the table on a regular basis, since it seems to me that Bill C‑15 covers all of that?
I wonder whether this amendment is necessary.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Bachrach, could you perhaps answer that question? We'll proceed with the vote afterwards.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Chair, if I understand Ms. Pauzé correctly, she is asking whether, because C-15 references all other Canadian statutes, it is really necessary to go both directions and have new statutes reference the framework on C-15.
My sense is that, given where C-15 is, and because the co-formation of that framework hasn't taken place yet, it's important in this new legislation that we have a reference to that so that it doesn't get missed.
While it may seem duplicative, I think indigenous rights are important enough that we should make sure that when we're passing legislation we include reference to them, especially a piece of legislation aimed specifically at environmental racism, which affects so many indigenous people.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
On division.
(Amendment as amended agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
That means NDP-1 is now inadmissible due to a line conflict, and Liberal amendments one, four, and five were also adopted with LIB-2.
Shall clause 3 carry as amended?
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
On division.
(Clause 3 agreed to on division)
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
On division.
(Clause 4 agreed to on division)
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
On division.
(Clause 5 agreed to on division)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
We're into the preamble now. Is that correct?
On LIB-3, Ms. Saks, did you want to speak to that?
Liberal
Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair, but Ms. Pauzé has had her hand up, and I'd like to make sure before we continue that she does speak.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Once again, I want to emphasize that the Bloc Québécois is very happy to see all these amendments proposed by the Liberal Party, because they allow us to enlarge the lens through which we will see this when we talk about, for example, “members of an Indigenous or racialized community”. So we are including marginalized populations that might simply be disadvantaged, regardless of their colour or race, just disadvantaged.
For us, that's important. We therefore feel that we have been heard.
So we're going to vote in favour of that amendment as well.