Environment Committee on Oct. 24th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Pardon me, Ms. Chatel. Mr. Mazier has a point of order.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I would like to ask the clerk what the standard process is for debate on motions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

When you are debating a motion, you can debate a motion for a month if you want.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Well, I am asking the clerk. What is the standard?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is there an average? It depends whether you're PROC or ethics, or whether—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

What is the standard? Do we normally debate amongst our committee members?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Pardon me?

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

What is the standard? What is the normal practice?

We introduce the motion. Does the committee debate it, or do the witnesses?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We should all know the normal practice, Mr. Mazier.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Do we? Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes.

The normal practice is that when somebody has the floor, they have the floor until they've stopped talking. We've seen this in other committees.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Yes, so she stopped talking—

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

No—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It was on a point of order, Mr. Mazier.

I'm going to move on now to Madame Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you.

I ask you please to be patient. I really want to take part in the debate based on a clear understanding of the motion you've introduced. I think that's important. I'd like to debate it and take advantage of the fact that we are here with people who can provide clarification to the members of this committee. I don't know why you're preventing me from getting that clarification.

So my question is this: what regulatory amendments have been made since the incident in 2015 to provide municipalities with more direct lines in order to perform more of this kind of work on their infrastructure, while properly safeguarding our jewels, such as the St. Lawrence River?

[Caroline Blais]

We've started the process—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Mazier.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

On a point of order, I'll ask the clerk again: Who is normally involved in the debate on a motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We are going to break for a few seconds.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We will resume.

I will ask Ms. Chatel to complete her intervention so that Mr. Mazier, Mr. Bachrach and Ms. Pauzé can speak. I believe we have until 1:00 p.m. This is a very interesting discussion.

Please continue, Ms. Chatel. You have a little time left if you want it.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think this subject is very important. I've discussed the matter with my colleague Ms. Pauzé. It's clear that wastewater treatment is included in the freshwater study we propose to conduct.

I don't think we need a motion specific to Montreal, but rather one that applies to all cities and to all discharges that may occur across Canada.

I would be satisfied if that's already part of the study. However, with your permission, I'd like to hear Ms. Blais' response.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

All right.

Ms. Blais, it would be good if you could conclude your answer.

[Caroline Blais]

Since the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations were adopted, we've realized that discharges have occurred in places other than at the destination, as in sewer systems. No provision was made in the regulations for monitoring those discharges. Consequently, efforts were made to update them to include provisions for better monitoring of those kinds of discharges.

The new regulations, which should be enacted in 2024, will include provisions requiring that all regulated persons and organizations request authorization before performing works that may result in any discharge of waste-water at a location other than the destination. It will also establish more conditions and will apply to all municipalities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

So we want to improve the existing regulations.

[Caroline Blais]

That's correct.