Environment Committee on April 11th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Colleagues, we're going to pause for a couple of minutes so that Mr. Longfield can put his amendment on paper. We can proceed from there.

We've sent it out, Mr. Longfield, but we'll make sure you get it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I call the meeting back to order.

Mr. Longfield, would you like to move an amendment to Ms. Collins' motion?

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

My apologies. Is this an amendment to Mr. Leslie's motion?

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

I want to get more information. We haven't seen it yet. I'd like to have witnesses come at some point to talk about the information.

I also know we have a study coming from Madam Pauzé in which some of that could be included.

I think if we start with having the minister come and talk about the information, we may want to have a further study, or we may want to include this in Madam Pauzé's study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Just go ahead with what we have.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Longfield is not proposing an amendment after all. I'll take him off the list for the amendment.

We're at Ms. Collins—

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

We have to make an invitation and find out when that date is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

If I understand correctly, we're basically going back to the original motion by Mr. Leslie. There were no amendments to the motion. He withdrew his amendment.

Is there a need for debate?

I have Ms. Collins, Mr. Leslie and Mr. van Koeverden on the list.

Do you want to proceed to a vote? Do you want to withdraw your names from—

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

I'll withdraw my name.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Leslie, go ahead.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Chair.

I just have a quick comment. I appreciate my colleagues across the way recognizing that it will be difficult for any experts to come to committee without having that information. It's probably not an appropriate time to add to this motion.

I fully agree that we could have a study of 10 meetings with experts. We could bring in industry associations that have been impacted. We could bring in farmers and families who are being crippled by this. There are a lot of experts we could bring in to talk about this. I think that's a great idea.

However, my colleague Madam Pauzé's study is on the books, and I think it would be unfair to jump ahead of that by altering this motion. Hopefully we can get unanimous support and get the minister here in short order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I can take you off the list.

I have Mr. van Koeverden next and then Madam Pauzé.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

My concern is that we're launching the meeting after more information on the modelling was requested. I think we ought to get the information on the modelling, and then take an opportunity to look at it. It was just delivered on Monday. They want further data and more comprehensive information. I think that's the next step. I don't think inviting the officials to committee prior to even seeing it is the next step. I think it's pre-emptive—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Are you against the motion as it's written?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I'm not against the motion. I'm against doing it right now. I'm against the date.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay.

Madam Pauzé, go ahead.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I think the date has been changed to May 24.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

May 24.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

That's why we talked about changing that date. That gives us a month and a half to get the information we need, and I think that's reasonable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay.

Mr. Mazier, go ahead.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I just want to reiterate that we need the factual information about what the Liberals have been talking about and what the minister has been talking about for eight years now.

Is the truth, if it's to be known, measured, or is it not? Is there a wanted outcome, or are there just projections? This is really what we're getting at here.

If we could get on with this motion, we'll see, and hopefully we'll have some more information, but I encourage members to pass this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I have a sense there's unanimous consent to pass this motion as is.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

We want a vote.

(Motion agreed to: yeas, 11; nays, 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])