Evidence of meeting #40 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 amendments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:45 p.m.
Liberal
5:45 p.m.
Liberal
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My first question is for Ms. Taylor or Mr. Affleck.
In your testimony on CBI, confidential business information, it sounded like you stressed the importance of “public” confidence. I heard you say those words. I may not have internalized everything you said, but do you have any specific suggestions for improving public confidence in CBI? Based on the testimony we've heard, there seem to be some questions in some segments of the Canadian public.
5:45 p.m.
Vice-President, Plant Biotechnology, CropLife Canada
Yes. I think the importance is finding the balance between transparency on CBI and inhibiting competition, because then you have trade secrets or information that's specific.
5:45 p.m.
Vice-President, Plant Biotechnology, CropLife Canada
To get to that point, I think it's not about radical transparency of all the information being available. It's important that the government summarize that in such a way that an average Canadian can understand what that information meant and how it played into the decision.
5:45 p.m.
Liberal
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
The system is perfect and it doesn't need any changes. That's what we've heard from other folks in industry.
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Vice-President, Plant Biotechnology, CropLife Canada
I would agree that it's quite functional. If tweaks are needed, I think the departments themselves that are managing those files are well positioned to make those transparency changes as they see fit, with their stakeholders.
5:45 p.m.
Liberal
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Okay.
Ms. Coombs, we heard from the Canadian Environmental Law Association. They presented us with a very detailed, very impressive brief. The gentleman was contrasting the REACH and the CMP system that we use, the risk-based system.
You've been involved in this file for I think 25 years or so. You've seen this evolution over time. I think it was Mr. Castrilli who argued for at least moving some elements of CEPA over to this hazard-based approach versus the risk-based approach. I wonder if you would reflect on that and offer some comment to the committee.
5:45 p.m.
President, Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association
I think that what's really interesting is that this committee, back in 1999, was the first to initiate the amendment that was around the categorization and scrutiny of the domestic substances list, which ultimately turned into the chemicals management plan, which is a world-leading program. I think, as I mentioned in my opening statement, that Canadians should be very proud of that program. It is risk-based. It deals with environmental issues and it deals with human health. I think that we've set the bar really high, and I know that other jurisdictions want to emulate that. I think we shouldn't be afraid to stand up and say that the CMP is a world-leading program and that our substances and our products are assessed appropriately.
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Liberal
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
This committee, working together collaboratively, produced the modern CEPA that we know today and that we're trying to improve.
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Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
We'll end on that positive note.
Thank you to our witnesses.
Thank you, members. Have a good evening. We'll see you on Friday for the minister's visit.
The meeting is adjourned.