Evidence of meeting #8 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 vehicle.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Aaron Wudrick  Federal Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Daniel Breton  President and Chief Operating Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Nicolas Pocard  Director, Marketing, Ballard Power Systems Inc.
David Adams  President and Chief Executive Officer, Global Automakers of Canada

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC

Yes.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

The presentation of the economic statement is at 4 p.m., and I think the speech will take about 45 minutes.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC

That's usually the case, but we don't know exactly.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

Do the members of the committee want to meet at 3:15 p.m., have a break and resume the meeting after the speech on the economic statement?

5:35 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC

Yes.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Raj Saini Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

I think it would be better if we just stopped the meeting, because obviously, it can be a very important speech and we're all interested in the snapshot.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Mr. Chair—

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

Mr. Jeneroux, I'll get to you in a moment.

Okay, then basically we would just not have a meeting, and I think the minister is coming on Wednesday, so we would have to meet on the report the following Monday—that type of thing.

We'd have to work it out somehow.

Mr. Jeneroux.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I know from previous committees that typically the first meeting concerns instructions for the analyst. Is that essentially the purpose of the meeting on Monday?

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

Yes, it is.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB

In some committees I've been on in the past, that's often just a 15-minute meeting. I'm not sure we need the full time.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

I want to discuss the witnesses for the CEPA study, the enforcement study, so I think we do need some time.

Are there any other comments?

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC

Obviously, I brought it up. I think it's a non-partisan issue to be able to be there to hear what the Minister of Finance has to report. There might be some aspects to it that touch us as a committee, so it might be interesting for us to be able to devote our time to what the Minister of Finance is going to be putting forward.

If Mr. Jeneroux says that we can get it done in 15 minutes based on his experience—

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

Personally, I don't think we're going to be able to get it done in a short time. What if you left it with me and the clerk and I can consult Madame Pauzé, Ms. Collins and Mr. Redekopp after the clerk has given me some options?

I think there's a willingness to listen to the speech. Members want to be at the speech, and we can't do all the work that we want to do in 15 or 20 minutes. I don't think that's possible.

Mr. Jeneroux, I agree that sometimes it can be, but we have to talk about witnesses. Therefore, would you leave it with me and I'll discuss it with the clerk and with the members of the steering committee?

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

I have a suggestion for you, Mr. Chair.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

Go ahead.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Given the situation, we don't know what will happen next Monday. Today is Wednesday. I think my colleague Mr. Schiefke has raised a very important point. Wouldn't it be appropriate to postpone Monday's meeting until Wednesday. It's a domino effect. That would be obvious for everyone.

We're talking about holding a 15-minute meeting. I think it can be done, but you say the meeting may be longer since it will be the first. I understand and respect that, but wouldn't it be easier for everyone, in the circumstances, to decide now to cancel Monday's meeting and reschedule it for Wednesday?

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

The minister will be meeting with us on Wednesday. So that will depend on...

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

So we could postpone the meeting on the report until the following Monday.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

I have an idea. Mr. Jeneroux may be right. We could meet for at least 45 minutes to debate certain matters. Then we could adjourn the meeting and see what we have managed to accomplish in those 45 minutes.

5:40 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

That's a good idea.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

As a result of doing nothing...

Yes, Ms. O'Connell.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON

Mr. Chair, I don't mean to interrupt. I just think it might be difficult even to meet in those 45 minutes—because some members will be in person and some will be virtual—and then coming back to connect.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

Yes, okay.

5:40 p.m.

Liberal

Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON

In fairness, all parties will have opportunities to make statements and speak afterwards. I'm sure that nobody has really figured out who is doing what on that day and so, in fairness, Mr. Godin's point about maybe just moving it to the following Monday would be the easiest so that we don't run into issues.