Environment Committee on Nov. 6th, 2024

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair, and thanks to my—

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

Just as a clarification—

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I think the Conservative members would like to ask a question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Go ahead on a point of clarification.

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

Just to be clear, the minister hasn't even introduced this in the House yet.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Yes. It completed first reading in June.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It hasn't moved forward.

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

He hasn't spoken on it, though, yet. Is that right?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Not to my knowledge.

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

Okay. That's pretty unprecedented.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. van Koeverden.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

It's surprising to hear that the Conservative members haven't even looked into where this bill is on the Order Paper, but members can check on parl.ca with respect to where exactly the nature accountability act—

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

We're not past the green slush fund.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Let's have one person at a time, please.

Mr. van Koeverden, you have the floor.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Thanks. I don't think I'll take any lessons on reading from Mr. Mazier—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Let's just move ahead with the motion and and what it's for.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Thanks Mr. Chair.

The bill is Bill C-73. It's an act respecting transparency and accountability with regard to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

We've been approached by various stakeholders in this building, as we're coming in and coming out of these meetings, urging us to look into this and do a prestudy. This is an important bill.

First of all, Canada is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, not just because of our size, but also because of the diversity of our landscapes. This is a uniquely Canadian issue that I am looking forward to studying.

Canada is facing a triple threat of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. All three have an impact on biological diversity. I'm looking forward to looking into Bill C-73.

I'll also say that if we'd passed this in the last couple of meetings, when I gave notice of this motion, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change would have already been here. He would have visited today. That's what the Conservatives seem to suggest they would like. They would like more ministers—

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

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is it a point of order?

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

It's probably not.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay, we'll let Mr. van Koeverden continue.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

The Conservatives have repeatedly suggested that they would like to have ministers come to this committee. As I speak today, following an hour and a half of filibuster from the Conservatives, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change could have been here. However, they want to listen to each other and themselves speak instead. It was cute while it lasted.

They're still talking.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

If we could have just one person speaking at a time, it will go much better.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Very good. I'm looking forward to doing this prestudy.

I'm also looking forward to having Minister Boissonnault here. He is indeed travelling to Jasper in the coming weeks, and I'm certain that he'll have insight to share.

With respect to Jasper and the preceding hour of conversation on it, I would just read once again an excerpt from the Jasper Local, which states that fanning the flames of these politically-driven comments sows division, mistrust and hard feelings amongst Canadians in general, but among Jasperites in particular. It states:

The negative rhetoric is wearing on locals, many of whom were involved in the incident, and—

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

I have a point of order.

I think this isn't really relevant to his actual motion. This is talking about Bill C-73.