Environment Committee on Dec. 14th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Perfect.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

So there are three days left if we count the 24-hour period.

The idea is that I want as many failsafes as possible—suspenders, belt and velcro. Let me explain: we table the report right away; the minister has 120 days to respond, but he is not obligated to use all of them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

No.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

As we know, Ministers Wilkinson and Guilbeault talk to each other a lot.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay, I've understood where you are going with this.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

You've understood my intent, good.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. Collins, you have the floor.

Mr. Duguid will be next.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just wanted to kind of echo Madame Pauzé. I think it's important that we table this motion. With a letter, there's no requirement for the minister to respond. If we wanted to write a letter in addition to passing this motion, I don't think there's any harm in asking the minister to respond quicker, but it does seem like it's important to pass this motion. I think that, because there was an amendment proposed, we're probably on that portion, and I just wanted to speak in favour of the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Duguid.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Chair, maybe it's because I'm new to the committee, but there are just a lot of things flying around. I'm a little confused. I wonder if it would be helpful to suspend for a few moments for some informal discussions so that we can make our way through this matter and make a final decision.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We'll suspend for a couple of minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'll resume the meeting.

Mr. Albas.

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

I was hoping the clerk would, first of all, let us know how quickly he would be able to turn this around if this motion were passed, because that may impact the amount of time we would need for a dissenting report.

Through you, Mr. Chair, I would ask the clerk to just clarify that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Could you clarify how long it would take to retable this report? I guess we would have to change the date on it. That's pretty much it.

[The Clerk]

We should be able to do it pretty quickly, to have it ready and then to table it by the end of the week at this point. It depends on the motion that you adopt for the timeline. We should be okay to have it ready for tabling.

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

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Your amendment is that parties can submit dissenting reports within 24 hours.

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

I would even say by the end of day today upon adoption, if Madame Pauzé is amenable to that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay.

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

The reason for this again, Mr. Chair, is that we want to establish that, if this gets used in the future, there is a period for dissenting reports. We don't plan on doing that. I just want to support Madame Pauzé as much as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is that a friendly amendment?

[The Clerk]

It's considered a subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We vote on that, and then we vote on—

[The Clerk]

I'm sorry. It's an amendment to the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We'll vote on the amendment, and then we'll vote on Madame Pauzé's motion. Is there anyone else?

Mr. Longfield.