Environment Committee on June 21st, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The meeting is called to order.

Obviously, we're going to have to play it by ear today, but we have with us the sponsor of the bill, Ms. Lenore Zann, MP for Cumberland—Colchester. As well, from the department, we have Laura Farquharson, Silke Neve and Pascal Roberge. We're here to do clause-by-clause on Bill C-230.

I don't think I need to read out the rules of how we conduct ourselves in a committee, especially in a virtual format. I think everyone is familiar with that.

It seems like just yesterday we were doing clause-by-clause. We will start with the fact that we're doing this pursuant to Standing Order 75(1). Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1, the short title, and the preamble is postponed. For obvious reasons, we've gone through this before on Bill C-12.

I call clause 2. I would like to see if we can adopt clause 2.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

On division.

(Clause 2 agreed to on division)

(On clause 3)

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would like to inform the members of the committee that the purpose of amendment LIB‑1 is to change the heading. According to the procedural rule, a change to a heading is only possible if there is a change to the text of the bill that would justify the change to the heading.

Amendment LIB‑2 seeks to change the text of the bill that would justify the change to the heading proposed by amendment LIB‑1. Therefore, it makes more sense for us to consider amendment LIB‑2 first. If LIB‑2 is adopted, LIB‑1 will automatically be adopted to reflect the change to the text of the bill.

If I am not mistaken, we are now on clause 3, and I would ask Mr. Longfield to introduce LIB‑2.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I'm pleased to introduce a motion to amend clause 3. The amendment does a few things. It adds a reference to the concept of environmental justice, which is something that's also included in the heading, as you said, but we can go back to that.

It's in line with the amendment we've discussed at committee. We'd ensure that the national strategy promotes efforts to prevent, assess and address environmental racism, and we would provide flexibility to the minister to cooperate or consult with a wide variety of interested stakeholders. The amendment would also provide the government with flexibility in developing the strategy and avoid pre-empting or prejudging the outcome of the work that would be undertaken in the development of the national strategy.

It also removes references to measures that could infringe on provincial jurisdiction or be more appropriately taken up by the provinces. This includes removing the requirement to “assess the administration and enforcement of environmental laws in each province”, as we recognize that jurisdiction over protection of the environment is a shared jurisdiction among the different levels of government.

That's the rationale for the amendments in LIB-2.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I see Mr. Bachrach has his hand up.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to move a subamendment, and I wonder if this is the appropriate time to do so.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I believe you can do that. If the legislative clerks feel that's not possible then I hope they will let me know, but my understanding is that it is. Go ahead.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you. I believe this has been emailed, in both official languages, to the clerk. Hopefully, that's been distributed to committee members.

I would move that after the words “who are interested” we insert the following, “and ensures that it is consistent with the framework for the Government of Canada's implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I have not seen that yet. Has anyone else received it? Maybe the—

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I see Ms. Zann's hand as well, but Mr. Chair, just to provide due warning, I have another very simple subamendment that I would like to raise under the same section. Perhaps I could move my second subamendment after we deal with this one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is that a subamendment to the same clause?

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

It is to the same clause. I've been led to believe that I could do it as two separate subamendments, but I'm happy to cluster them if that's better.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Let me just check.

Mr. Bachrach, if you could send the first one to the clerk, he can get it to the legislative clerk.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Yes. I just received a text indicating that it has been sent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'm told it will be sent out momentarily, then.

I think we should probably wait for the amendment to arrive. Then we can go to Madame Pauzé.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, while we're waiting, I see Philippe Méla on the line. I'm going to wave and say “Hello.” He was my orientation volunteer when I first started in the House in what seems like forever ago.

Hi, Philippe. Thanks for all your help. I'm still here. I actually figured it out, so thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay, we've received it. Here it is.

Mr. Bachrach, I'm told you can move both at the same time, but there will be only one vote. It's up to you to decide if you want to vote on one first and bring in the other one after.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Ideally, we would like both of the subamendments to carry, but barring a majority vote on both of them, we'd want one or the other to carry, so I think doing them separately is probably our preference.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay.

Go ahead, Madame Pauzé.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Chair, I am referring to the clause under discussion, not to Mr. Bachrach's amendments. Perhaps we should finish the discussion on those amendments, and then I will speak to the Liberal Party amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay. So you'll be speaking to amendment LIB‑2. Is that correct?

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Bachrach, have you already spoken to your first amendment?

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I feel that the subamendment is fairly self-explanatory. It's simply to reference the important work being done on indigenous rights.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Can you take your hand down so that you don't confuse the chair? Thank you.

We'll take the vote.