Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for the indulgence earlier to allow me to provide more detail from history.
This amendment, specifically to draw members' attention to the biggest change to the text we have in front us, is to remove the words “subject to any reasonable limits”. I'll note that in other acts of this kind, in environmental and human rights legislation, no such qualifying language is used to limit the application of these principles. The language I have proposed here is all found elsewhere within the act, and clearly members are very familiar with the notion of applying the precautionary principle, the principles of environmental justice, the polluter pays principle and the principles of sustainable development, substitution, non-regression and intergenerational equity.
I will again draw members' attention to the fact that at this stage it is quite inappropriate to include the words “subject to any reasonable limits”. That language was removed in relation to the right to a healthy environment when this bill was before the Senate.
I hope this is just tidying things up to keep things consistent.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.