Environment Committee on Dec. 14th, 2021

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's an honour and a privilege to be on this committee. I look forward to working with everybody here.

I'm the member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. I come at this line of work from an environmental and aboriginal law background. Hopefully, I can add some expertise to this work. I'm really looking forward to getting started.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

Ms. Taylor Roy.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

My name is Leah Taylor Roy, and I am the new member of Parliament for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill.

I'm very glad that I have figured out how to get this audio to work.

It's a pleasure to be here with you all. I am adjacent to Scot Davidson. In fact, we have something in common. I went to school in the Holland Marsh, and I worked on farms in the Holland Marsh. The environment there and the farmland there are near and dear to my heart.

I'm very interested in the conservation and protection of environmental land and in the agricultural methods that will protect our environment and food supply.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

I would like to echo what other members have talked about this being a very friendly and collaborative committee. We got a lot of work done in the last Parliament. I'm sure that will be the case again in the 44th Parliament.

I would just like to go over a couple of points related to public health. Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from health authorities as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, all those attending the meeting in person are to maintain a two-metre physical distancing. They must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is highly recommended that the mask be worn at all times, including when people are seated. They must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the provided hand sanitizer at the room entrance.

As chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meetings. I thank members in advance for their co-operation.

I would now like to suggest that we move on to the routine motions—

[A voice]

What about the elections of the vice-chairs?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'm so sorry.

Again, this hybrid format will take some getting used to.

We should proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Chair, with great pleasure I would like to nominate Mr. Dan Albas as vice-chair from the Conservative Party.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Albas, do you accept the nomination?

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

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Perfect.

Are there any further motions?

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

I'd like to nominate, from the Bloc Québécois, Monique Pauzé as vice-chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. Pauzé, would you agree to be vice-chair of the committee?

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

It will be my pleasure, Mr. Chair. We won't leave you without back-up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Seeing no further motions, I congratulate Mr. Albas and Ms. Pauzé on their election as vice-chairs of this great committee.

I think we've done everything in terms of structuring the committee. So we can move on to the routine motions; the clerk has provided you with the list.

Are there any movers?

Mr. Longfield, go ahead, please.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Great. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Congratulations to the vice-chairs who have rejoined the leadership of this committee.

On the routine motions that we have before us, I'll start with the analyst services. I move:

That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist in its work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Are there comments?

(Motion agreed to)

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

On the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, I move:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five members; the Chair, one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Are there any objections?

(Motion agreed to)

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

On meeting without a quorum, I move:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party, but when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct, that the meetings begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Mr. Longfield.

Does everyone agree with that?

(Motion agreed to)

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

On time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses, I move:

That the witnesses be given five minutes for their opening statement; and that whenever possible, witnesses provide the committee with their opening statement 72 hours in advance; that at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows for the first round: Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party.

For the second and subsequent rounds, that the order and time of questioning be as follows: Conservative Party, five minutes; Liberal Party, five minutes; Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes; New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes; Conservative Party, five minutes; Liberal Party, five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Mr. Longfield.

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Longfield, please continue.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

On document distribution, I move:

That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee provided the documents are in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

On working meals, I move:

That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittee.