Evidence of meeting #52 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 vote.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Colleagues, I'd like to welcome Mr. Jowhari, who is substituting for Ms. Thompson today.
Before we get started, I'd like to have a steering committee meeting next week. Is that okay...via Zoom? Does that work?
3:30 p.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Just given the issues we've been having with Zoom, I'm curious what we'll do if—
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
That's true. That's a good point actually, because we won't be in a room. Yes, that might be a problem. I think we may have to do it on the 22nd. That's a good point.
3:30 p.m.
Conservative
Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Chair, I'd certainly be supportive.
I have limited availability, but I'd certainly be supportive of having a meeting, if possible. I expect, especially for a steering committee meeting, it would be probably be all virtual if that could in fact be facilitated.
3:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes. I didn't think of that, so I think we're going to have to do that. I think we're going to have to.... Otherwise, it would have been good, but....
Okay, so the next meeting after this meeting—and I'm assuming we're going to finish with Bill S-5 today—would be a steering committee meeting, just to plan out the future a little bit.
(On clause 5)
Okay, so, we were at amendment G-6. We amended it—a subamendment was carried—and now we're on the amendment.
Does anyone want to speak to the amendment?
Ms. Collins.
3:30 p.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
I have just a quick note. I'm sure other members have gotten the outreach from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, really emphasizing the importance of ensuring that we are tackling the issue of air quality. This is part of this amendment. It's going to be part of the amendments that are coming up from the Bloc and from me.
They quote the UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, David Boyd, and say that one area where CEPA is failing is clean air. As it currently stands, Bill S-5 doesn't even mention air quality. Air pollution is the single-greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally. International bodies, such as the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Council have stressed the importance of addressing air pollution due to its negative impact on the full enjoyment of human and civil rights.
I just urge committee members to include some mention of air quality in this and to have legally enforceable air quality standards.
Thank you.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Thank you.
Before we continue, as I mentioned once before, in the last meeting, if G-6 is adopted as amended, amendments PV-6, BQ-3, NDP-10 and CPC-2 cannot be tabled because they all modify the same line as G-6.
Anyway, thanks for that intervention, Ms. Collins.
Would anyone else like to speak to this, or do we go straight to a vote?
Okay. We are voting on G-6 as amended.
(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Thank you.
The amendment, as it had been amended, is defeated. As I mentioned, we cannot go to PV-6. We cannot go to BQ-3....
The amendment was defeated. Sorry.
I guess I'm anxious to get through this. I'm sorry. I apologize for that.
Next is PV-6.
Yes, I understand that the amendment is deemed to have been moved, but is Ms. May here to speak to it?
Can we discuss it without her?
3:35 p.m.
NDP
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
There's no need to have someone here to table it. I'm just wondering if anyone wants to speak to it, or should we go straight to a vote? It looks like we want to go straight to a vote.
(Amendment negatived: nays 8; yeas 3 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
3:35 p.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
BQ‑3 is very similar to G‑6, which the committee unfortunately just voted against. It isn't perfect, especially regarding the geographical area. Of course, it would have been better to say “respecting provincial and territorial jurisdictions”, but that was defeated with the vote on G‑6. I won't ask anyone to move a subamendment to that effect, because I know what the outcome will be.
The rationale for G‑6 applies to BQ‑3 as well.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
That's correct.
Mr. Chair, I support this amendment in part. Specifically, while I oppose proposed paragraph (a), I support proposed paragraph (b) of the amendment.
First, the right to a healthy environment under CEPA applies to the whole act. Singling out specific issues or programs that are current preoccupations undermines the approach. As well, CEPA is an enabling statute, and as such, it is meant to last through changes in priorities.
I have a longer explanation here, Mr. Chair, but I will just let that stand.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
I'm opposing proposed paragraph (a) and supporting proposed paragraph (b).
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Would you like proposed paragraph 5.1 (1.1)(a) to be withdrawn?
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Okay. Would we like to debate that subamendment?
Ms. Collins.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Just to be clear, the paragraph that we're deleting is the explicit mention of respecting ambient air quality. I will quote David Boyd again, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, who said, “Health Canada estimates that air pollution kills over 15,000 Canadians each year...and inflicts over $120 billion in socio-economic costs on the Canadian economy”, staggering figures that should prompt swift and immediate action from any government.
I am concerned that the government not only voted down the last amendment, which explicitly mentioned air quality, but now, in this very supportable and strong amendment that's been put forward by the Bloc, it is again attempting to strip any mention of air quality from the bill.