Environment Committee on Dec. 9th, 2022

[John Moffet]

If there's any way to go back to “particulier”—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes, we understand. That was a rhetorical question.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Chair, if we have unanimous consent, I move that the decision that was made be rescinded, for the linguistic and legislative reasons that have just been clearly explained to us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Therefore, you agree that we should do this, if there is unanimous consent. That's fine. Thank you, Mr. Deltell.

Do we have unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

(Subamendment is withdrawn)

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

We'll start over.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Now we vote on the amendment as is, not as amended—

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Chair, can I ask for some commentary from Mr. Moffet on this amendment?

The amendment has been tabled, and I just wanted to ask a question of Mr. Moffet.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes, of course, but we're dealing with “particulier”—the original.

Go ahead and ask your question of Mr. Moffet.

Wait a minute. Ms. Collins, did you have your hand up?

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

It's irrelevant now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Duguid, you have the floor.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Could you tell me where we are, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes, we are basically at the very beginning. We're voting on the amendment that has been put forward by Ms. Collins.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

The subamendment is now off the table.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That's right. It's done.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Good. I wasn't sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes, we're back to the original amendment, NDP-1.

You wanted to ask Mr. Moffet a question.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Moffet, I think your advice on the addition of the NDP amendment regarding future generations is to not support the amendment.

I wonder if you could give us your advice on this and why we should or shouldn't vote for it.

[John Moffet]

I think my role is to explain the consequences of the amendment.

In this case, the amendment would change the scope of the right in the bill considerably. It's contrary to the entire approach that's been taken in drafting these provisions.

The bill proposes that the right would be acknowledged for all individuals living now. We need to draw a distinction between recognizing a right that future generations hold versus what is in the current text, which acknowledges that the current generation needs to take into account the needs of future generations. That provision and that concept are in the bill.

What is not in the bill, which would be changed by this amendment, would be to accord a right to people not yet born. That would, as I said, significantly change the nature of the right and diverge considerably from the government's intent in this case.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. Collins is next.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

I would just refer people to the United Nations document on a call to action for human rights and the rights of future generations. It talks about the interlinked crises of climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and pollution as violating the rights of people—everyday countless people—and threatening the effective enjoyment of human rights of future generations.

This call to action really recognizes that climate actions are impacting people today and they will also impact future generations. We've heard that from numerous witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Would anyone else like to speak to the amendment?

I see that no one else wishes to speak, so we'll go to a vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 9; yeas 2 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Good. It's not good that it was negatived, but good that we got through it.

Ms. May is an independent. Her amendment is deemed moved already and she has a right to a brief comment on the amendment she is proposing.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. May I please correct you, with all respect?

I am a Green Party member of Parliament. I'm not—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I am sorry. I didn't mean it that way, Ms. May. I know.