Evidence of meeting #111 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was province.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
It's not a point of order whether you're standing or sitting in the House.
Go ahead.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Thanks.
I didn't need to visit Mr. Mazier at his desk. I didn't need to ask him if he had received the documents in question, but I did, because I wanted to make sure that he had. I did it because I collaborate on this committee and because I want to work with everybody. Indeed, he had received the documents in time. After that, I went and reviewed them myself.
There's a lot. There are four different documents between five and eight pages each. There's a lot of information in there, and I reviewed it as well. There's way more information in those documents than there was in the initial press releases.
Look, this government didn't invent cabinet confidence. Transparent by default doesn't mean we're going to divulge confidential information about how these programs and things are negotiated with big companies that want to remain competitive in a global economic environment.
You're right that, as MPs, we are entitled to more information than what should be or could be divulged to the general public. If we wanted a confidentially arranged meeting here with officials to discuss some of those numbers, we could do it in camera, but these meetings are broadcast to the public, as they should be.
Again, this isn't an emergency. It's something we could look into if we wanted to. I, personally, am very supportive of investing in technology and innovation with large businesses, particularly those which are large emitters. I don't see any point in sending $400 million to an organization that doesn't do any emitting when we're looking to lower emissions—
Conservative
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Mr. Mazier, it's my turn to speak. I'm here on your time because you would like to have an—
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
—emergency meeting about this.
I'm going to finish my statement, which is that I'm happy to have another meeting. That's totally fine.
However, suggesting that this is an emergency or that we're withholding something is completely beyond the pale and a misuse of parliamentary resources.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
I'll happily let my NDP colleague go first, just because they haven't spoken yet.
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
Qujannamiik, Iksivautaq. Thank you, Chair.
I have been given a very quick briefing from Laurel's staff, which I'm very thankful for. Having read Mr. Mazier's notice of motion, it is reasonable, given what was learned and not shared. I understand that there was a 106(4) letter written on May 31. To me, that is an acknowledgement of the failure of this government to make sure that information was shared that would help this committee make informed decisions about recommendations that need to be made in a report on this. That is important.
Given that, as I understand it, the response of the government is that there's sensitive business information, the NDP will support this motion if we can amend it so that there's one hour of a public session and one hour in camera. If there is information that needs to be considered that's more confidential, it can be discussed in camera.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
You're proposing an amendment, Ms. Idlout.
I have the motion here in front of me. Do you have the text of the amendment?
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Okay. It's “no less than two hours”. You're a lawyer—I know I'm not. Could we put a comma after “two hours” and say, “one of which would be in camera” and then we continue?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
That's the amendment on the floor.
We'll have Madame Pauzé on the amendment.
We're going to have a brief recess first.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Where were we? We had Madame Pauzé, who was going to speak on the amendment, and the amendment is to add a comma after “no less than two hours”, so it would be “no less than two hours, one of which would be in camera”. That's the amendment.
Bloc
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Okay.
Are you withdrawing this amendment? Do you want to withdraw the amendment?
Do we have UC to withdraw the amendment?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
We have another amendment. Mr. Leslie wants to propose another amendment. Is that right?
Conservative
