Evidence of meeting #130 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 esg.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Then we'll go to Ms. Collins, Ms. Taylor Roy and Mr. Mazier on the amendment.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Are we still on the amended version or on the amendment?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
We're debating Madame Pauzé's amendment. You said you wanted to speak on whatever was on the floor.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
We did, but Ms. Collins raised an objection. I understand it's difficult when you're attending remotely. I'm going backwards to where we were voting on the amendment.
November 4th, 2024 / 12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Okay.
I will say that I appreciate the kind words of Mr. van Koeverden regarding my birthday, but I wish we could have reserved this topic for committee business. It's always pointed out to us that it's a more appropriate time. Unfortunately, we are going to lose the officials who travelled all the way across the river to get here. I think it is deeply unfortunate to see that sort of hypocrisy.
I think this is all very confusing, and not only as to what amendment we're voting on. This committee has so many things on its plate right now, and juggling....
Obviously, Mr. Chair, you worked tirelessly for years to bring forward a very robust water study, on which I'm sure the analysts have been working very diligently. I know there were a lot of witnesses and testimony to bring together, so I'm sure there's a lot of work there. I suspect you would like that study to see the light of day in a published format, but with rumours of a possible prorogation and potential early carbon tax election, I would hate to see that report not make it across the finish line and published.
Of course, this isn't the only thing we have. I appreciate the possible date of December 4, I believe, for Minister Randy Boissonnault to appear, in order to help us conclude the Jasper fire investigation. I hope he's spending a lot of time in Jasper talking to folks there and finding out—as we studied—the factors that led to the fire that devastated that community and left 2,000 people homeless. I think we also need to try to ensure we finalize that particular topic.
We have ongoing letters that need to be sent out regarding the appearance of five oil and gas CEOs before our committee, and I think we have another study or two awaiting circulation for us to review. Then, of course, there's the net-zero accelerator fund challenges we are having. My understanding is that we haven't returned to that issue—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I'm sorry. I will interrupt.
We're going to be discussing that on November 18. Regardless of whether this motion passes or not, we're going to look at the net-zero accelerator on November 18.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Okay. That is good to hear. I suspect we'll also be looking at the environment commissioner's report that we anticipate will—
Conservative
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Where did we end up with the deputy minister?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
We're going to have a delegate from the deputy minister. The deputy minister will not be here. We talked about that.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Can they answer the questions about how many emissions are actually targeted—all the answers that the deputy minister refused to give us the first time?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
The deputy minister is seconding his.... I'm not sure about the individual's title, but there will be somebody there standing in for the deputy minister. Actually, I was going to bring that up. I'm glad you brought it up, Mr. Mazier.
Does the committee wish to receive the commissioner on the 20th?
I'm seeing nodding on the right side.
Madame Collins, would you like to see the commissioner on the 20th? Yes.
What about on the left side here?
Okay, we're going to invite the commissioner on the 20th. I have dealt with those two things—Minister Boissonnault coming on December 4 and the commissioner on the 20th.
Go ahead, Mr. Leslie.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Maybe this is committee business. It certainly sounds like that. We're hashing these details out on the fly. Again, it's odd that we're doing this in public with witnesses in the room, but that was the prerogative of the member raising the issue.
We have another study raised by my colleague in the NDP on a challenging issue regarding Fort Chipewyan and a dock there.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes. We're waiting to hear back from the transport committee. I'm hoping it will be tomorrow.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
We have many things on the go in this committee right now, and I think we are—
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Leslie.
I want to clarify that our motion was very explicit: If we don't hear back from the transport committee within a week with an affirmative, we would proceed as if we're having the study.
At this point, Mr. Chair, the committee has directed you to proceed as if we are conducting the study on the contamination in Fort Chipewyan.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Let me have a little pause and check with the clerk on that.
Ms. Collins, you're right. There was a deadline of the 28th. I'll report back on that at some point, but right now, we're back to Mr. Leslie and we're debating the amendment.
Conservative
Liberal
Leah Taylor Roy Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Chair, I have a point of order.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand. If we're debating the amendment, I don't understand the relevance to the amendment of what Mr. Leslie is saying.
Liberal