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.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
No, we didn't. Once we adopted NDP-22, we couldn't consider NDP-23.
(On schedule 1)
Liberal
Terry Duguid Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Chair, I move that Bill S-5, in schedule 1, be amended by deleting the reference to “section 68.1” in the references after the heading “Schedule 1” on page 53.
This amendment is consequential to the one introduced in clause 16.1. Simply put, clause 16.1 no longer refers to schedule 1, so there is no longer a need to reference this clause in the heading.
The government is committed to replacing, reducing and refining the use of vertebrate animals in the testing and assessment of substances. The amendment adopted in clause 16.1 imposed a positive obligation on the ministers to use scientifically justified alternatives, to the extent practicable, for the purposes of proposed paragraph 68(a) of the act.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Is there any debate? We shall vote on it.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
(Schedule 1 as amended agreed to on division)
Shall the short title carry?
Liberal
Liberal
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
I just note that it is 5:07. We do have scheduled time left in our day. I was wondering if maybe we could start a subcommittee meeting or at least to commence the conversation—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I'd have to prepare the subcommittee. We're not ready for it yet. I apologize for that.
Go ahead, Mr. Kurek.
Conservative
Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Thank you very much, Chair.
Ms. Collins just referenced the subcommittee or steering committee and the possibility of meeting. I understand the logistics of that, but I would just note that there are a number of studies that were passed by this and that we look forward to. We'd be open to the idea of a virtual steering committee meeting over the course of the break if we could ensure that technology would co-operate with us.
I'd just note that, of priority, further supplementary estimates were tabled in the House and will be before this committee. This committee did pass a motion back in December to have the minister come and speak before us. I look forward to that happening at the earliest opportunity.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I can be corrected if I'm wrong, but I'm told the minister may be available on March 27. I don't know if anyone's checked. My understanding is that we do want to bring the minister in.
In terms of a subcommittee, I don't mind doing a subcommittee during the break if you don't mind cancelling it if the sound is not good.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Nobody will feel inconvenienced if we're five minutes in and it's not working...? Okay. Let us do that.
Go ahead, Mr. Longfield.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Since I won't be at the subcommittee because I'm not on the subcommittee, I really encourage us to move towards the water study as soon as we can and maybe to start looking at witnesses. I have quite a few people contacting me who are wanting to be part of the water study, so I hope that can be brought forward quickly.
Liberal
Patrick Weiler Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
I agree. If we can meet next week as a subcommittee, that's great. Then we preserve more committee meeting time.
One thing we have talked about quite a bit is the potential for doing a report back on CEPA, because there were a number of areas that were brought up in testimony that we want to work on. They would be ruled out of order in this bill.
Similar to how the Senate said that there were important areas that came up that they weren't able to address, I think we should do the same as part of our committee, which could be instructive for future changes that might be made to our, hopefully, in-force modernized CEPA legislation.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
What you're asking is that the researchers prepare a draft report on areas that were raised but out of order or out of scope?
Liberal
Patrick Weiler Liberal West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Yes. Those were things that came up in the course of our meetings. For example, environmental protection actions came up many times as an area to be addressed. It's obviously a defunct area of the bill—
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, AB
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. It seems like we have moved to a committee business meeting, which would normally be an in camera meeting, so I move that we go in camera.