Evidence of meeting #20 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was homes.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We're talking a lot about water and flooding, so I'd like to take a moment to propose a motion that I had moved and explained previously. It pertains to the drafting of a report for the freshwater study the committee undertook during the 44th Parliament. I think my fellow members are all in favour of quickly adopting the motion, which was sent to all members, as well as to the clerk.
Shall I read it?
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Yes, I have. I move the following:
That, pursuant with Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on freshwater without receiving new testimony, and that the testimony and documents received by the committee during the First Session of the 44th Parliament concerning the study be made available to the committee and taken into consideration by the committee during the current session; that the committee proceed to the drafting of a report.
Liberal
Eric St-Pierre Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Could we suspend the meeting for two minutes to have a quick discussion?
Liberal
Shannon Miedema Liberal Halifax, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have a question for Mr. Bonin.
You're wanting the analysts to do the report of the freshwater study based on all of the witnesses from the 44th sitting, and you're not suggesting that we introduce new testimony. Is that correct?
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Exactly, and then we'll look at the report, and we can have discussions afterwards if we think we want to do something else, as we did with the finance report previously.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
Before going to Mr. St-Pierre, I want to ask the committee if we want to let the witnesses go. Do we intend to continue questioning the witnesses after we finish debate on the motion?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
Okay.
I would like to thank the witnesses for their presence.
You are now excused. Thank you again, and happy holidays.
Go ahead, Mr. St‑Pierre.
Liberal
Eric St-Pierre Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Thank you.
It is so noted that it's not my colleague Leslie this time around.
I'm just recognizing your previous efforts.
Mr. Bonin, do you want the committee to take the same approach it took for the climate finance study? Basically, in January or February, we would have a full analysis, we'd take an hour or two to review the report and make any necessary changes, after which, the chair would report it to the House. Is that what you would like?
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Ideally, yes. If, after reading the report, we want to have any discussions or do anything else, we could, but that's basically what I'm proposing.
Liberal
Bruce Fanjoy Liberal Carleton, ON
I think, amongst my colleagues at least, we're happy to proceed to a vote.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
I'll get to that.
Before that, Mr. Leslie, would you share some comments?
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Yes. They would be very similar.
Just to clarify, the analysts have compiled everything already. It will be a report similar to the financial impacts report shared with the committee, ideally in one smooth review—in committee, in camera, in committee business—because it is from the last Parliament. That's not to say it wasn't important. It was a lengthy study. It might be tougher to get done in one meeting, so I would just hope that we could perhaps all have our amendments prepared and not be doing things on the fly.
Maybe we could have a bit of a heads-up, Mr. Chair, on when this is coming, so that we have a little leeway and adequate time to review this and get in order the amendments that we want to see, without a lot of back-and-forth. A high number of witnesses did come for that study. We're okay with passing this motion so that we get the report and get it tabled in this Parliament. I just don't want to devote too many resources and too much time on going back and forth on certainly nothing new.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
That's precisely the idea.
That makes me wonder. Will we, as committee members, have access to the briefs and evidence provided? Perhaps we already do.
The Clerk of the Committee Leif-Erik Aune
All the evidence is already available on the website, and the briefs submitted as part of the study are online as well. However, any committee documents that were not published, such as background material, will be compiled and distributed to all committee members again.