Evidence of meeting #131 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 chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
I've been listening intently to this discussion for two hours. The discussion we've been hearing is looking at delaying any progress on doing a prestudy. It's a very important prestudy for us to do. The environment committee should be weighing in on the prestudy on Banff. We have done a bit of work on it, but I think we have some unfinished business there. I was hoping to get to that today, but the Conservatives really didn't want to do a prestudy, so they spent two hours talking about other things.
Now, at the end of the meeting, we're being asked to jump ahead of a queue. Right now, the transport committee is looking at a transport issue. Something they're trying to determine is how they can get that study agreed on and put into their schedule. For us to butt ahead of the work the transport committee is doing on this isn't—
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Again, it's a point of clarification.
We passed a motion to do the study on the contamination impacting health and the environment in Fort Chipewyan.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Longfield understands that. He's just commenting on the fact that the transport committee is looking at this too.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
I can see that Ms. Collins wants to get political points for this, but I think it's—
Liberal
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
It is a point of order.
The member should not be assuming motive. My motives are to listen to the three nations calling on us to do an investigation. I take great offence to his putting those kinds of motives into it. I am not trying to score political points here.
Mr. Chair, I would ask that the member apologize.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Chair, we're in a public discussion, and my reading on this is that we're going around a process the transportation committee is going through right now. If we put our motion—
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
I have a real point of order.
Because of the delay, I wasn't sure whether the member apologized.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
My understanding, Mr. Chair, is that as members of Parliament, we're not supposed to impugn the motives of our colleagues. Is that correct?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes, there's a lot of that going on today, on all sides. I'm afraid it's been going on all day. I don't think there was any malice on Mr. Longfield's part.
Anyway, let's try not to impugn motive.
I have to let Mr. Longfield continue.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
There was definitely no malice intended. We're in a public discussion. We can say things in committee that we can use outside of committee.
I really think this discussion needs to happen at the transport committee. If we take over this study, we're doing the work of the transport committee, which they might not want us to be doing. I think we're waiting to hear back from them, and in the meantime, we're trying to get Bill C-73 onto our schedule, which is a priority bill.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
I would like to highlight the independence of each and every unique committee. If we want to do the same thing as they do, we have it fully within our course—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Of course. However, we can still talk about it.
Go ahead, Mr. Longfield.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Something similar happened in the industry committee in the 42nd Parliament. We were both studying something together and never brought the two studies under one roof. Then we had two separate things going back to Parliament from two different committees.
I think it's more impactful for the people of the Chipewyan Nation if we have one study and do it well and completely, and I think we should be doing that in the transport committee.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
I feel like we've gone too far in the debate, and I'd like us to come back to Ms. Collins's amendment.
I would like to move that we adjourn the meeting, Mr. Chair. Can I do that?