Environment Committee on Dec. 6th, 2022

Evidence of meeting #42 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 right.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill S-5

MPs speaking

Also speaking

David Boyd United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, As an Individual

Mark Butler Senior Advisor, Nature Canada

Louise Vandelac Founder and Director, Collectif de recherche écosanté sur les pesticides, les politiques et les alternatives

Hugh Benevides Legislative Advisor, Nature Canada

Franny Ladell Yakelashek As an Individual

Rupert Yakelashek As an Individual

Jennifer Beeman Executive Director, Breast Cancer Action Quebec

Darren Praznik President and Chief Executive Officer, Cosmetics Alliance Canada

Lise Parent Full Professor, Breast Cancer Action Quebec

5:30 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Cosmetics Alliance Canada

Darren Praznik

Yes. In the original draft of the bill, when we had gone through it we were very supportive of it. The concern with respect to CUSMA would be the addition of another set of labelling requirements under the CEPA legislation while we already have mandatory ingredient labelling and warning labels under the Food and Drugs Act. To us, when we evaluated it, that would be duplicative.

We have noticed that Environment Canada and Health Canada administratively have not reached anywhere near what the expectations are for coordination of their activity to enhance compliance. We're starting to see compliance difficulties as a result.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Patrick Weiler Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC

What recommendations would you have for this committee to improve compliance? Do you see that as a legislative change that's necessary or is it on the policy side? What do you think would actually lead to better coordination between those bodies so they're not operating in silos?

5:35 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Cosmetics Alliance Canada

Darren Praznik

Well, one, don't ensure any amendments that create duplicative regulation on finished consumer products. Two, I think there needs to be a real review within Environment Canada about how they administer regulations on finished consumer products and also how to become a lot more co-operative and less siloed with Health Canada, which has the responsibility for many of those products.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

Patrick Weiler Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC

Okay, great.

My last question is for Mr. and Ms. Yakelashek. What are you hopeful about on the environmental front these days?

5:35 p.m.

As an Individual

Rupert Yakelashek

Well, we're hopeful about environmental rights being recognized in Canada.

We're hopeful about these amendments to CEPA being approved and CEPA being updated, because it was done before we were born. We need a CEPA that reflects the modern era and what we need now.

Thank you for the question.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia

Thank you.

Thank you to the witnesses, and a special shout-out to Franny and Rupert. You've put some big expectations and hopes on our shoulders as we finish our study on this piece of legislation. Best of luck to both of you, and to all the witnesses. Thank you very much.

We'll stop there, and we'll start clause-by-clause on Friday.