Evidence of meeting #25 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 vehicles.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
After “single use plastics prohibition regulations”, the subamendment would add the words, “as well as the suspension of the government's export ban on single use plastics”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
What you just said, Mr. Bonin, is already covered at the beginning of the amendment.
If I may, I'll let the clerk read it to you slowly. That will give you a better idea.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
No, it hadn't been crossed out, but just to be sure, we'll let the clerk repeat the amendment to you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
Mr. Clerk, can you read the amendment?
Unfortunately, it will be in English, but you will hear the interpretation.
The Clerk
The motion as amended would read as follows:
That the committee undertake a study, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), of one meeting, on the implementation and impacts of the single-use plastics prohibition regulations as well as the suspension of Ottawa’s export ban on single-use plastics; that the study take into account the scientific evidence that shows that plastic pollution poses a threat to the environment; that the committee invite the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and any other witnesses appropriate to this study to appear before it; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
I think we can strike the subamendment then.
Is there debate on the amendment?
Mr. Fanjoy.
Liberal
Bruce Fanjoy Liberal Carleton, ON
To clarify, the amendment refers to Ottawa's ban on single-use plastic exports. Ottawa is a municipality. We don't have a ban.
This is just a point of clarification. We need to refer to the federal government's ban and not Ottawa's. It's a common misconception that the two are equivalent. They are not.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
Are there any comments with respect to Mr. Fanjoy's comments?
Can we get more clarification as to what it should read? Is it “the government” instead of “Ottawa”?
Liberal
Bruce Fanjoy Liberal Carleton, ON
Yes, it's the federal government. “Ottawa” doesn't belong in the amendment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
Are there any further comments with respect to the amendment? Is there any further debate?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Is there a further amendment?
Liberal
Wade Grant Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
After that, where it says, “that the committee invite”, strike “the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and any other”. It would read, “that the committee invite witnesses appropriate to this study to appear before it; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.”
February 12th, 2026 / 12:55 p.m.
Conservative
David Bexte Conservative Bow River, AB
Respectfully, after today, the minister has to be there. To get to the nub of the matter and to get an unequivocal response on how this is going to be implemented, what the connotations are and what the unintended and intended consequences are, it has to come from the minister's mouth, full stop.
Further to all of that—maybe this refers to other parts of the previous amendment—if the government is suddenly getting urgent about the time, the timeline and our shortening schedule with the summer coming, the parliamentary schedule is by and large fully in the government's hands. The number of sitting days has been set by the government, and we could have been sitting a lot more days to get work done, so it's a bit of a fallacy to go down that road.
Anyhow, the minister needs to be there to answer to us. We're not going to have adequate answers from bureaucrats.
Thank you very much.
Liberal
Eric St-Pierre Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
It's not debate, but a comment. I would appreciate an acknowledgement of how generous the minister has been with her time. I'd like a respectful acknowledgement of the minister, who's been present at our committee many times. It's not an amendment, but looking for an acknowledgement.
Conservative
Ellis Ross Conservative Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Yes, I acknowledge the comment made by my colleague. She's been generous with her time, but not generous with her answers. I think that's probably the rub. We're not getting specific answers to specific questions. There's a countercomment.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Chair, I am aware that the minister's time is precious, as is ours, of course. However, when it comes to this decision, obviously it's a political decision. The minister answered some of the questions today. I don't want us to waste her time, but suspending this ban seems inconsistent to me. We're the committee the minister reports to, so it is part of her mandate and her job to come and explain decisions. We're talking about plastic, which is a major issue.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
Thank you.
We don't have a lot of time left, so we'll go to a vote on the amendment proposed by Mr. Grant about the minister's presence.
(Amendment negatived)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
Now we'll go to the vote on the motion as amended.
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We will now proceed to the following item, which is with respect to the study of Bill C-15. I would like to thank all members for collaborating in doing this brief study.
Shall the committee now proceed to amendments and recommendations or resume the study at the next meeting of the committee or report back to the finance committee with respect to Bill C-15?
There are no recommendations with respect to Bill C-15. We can report back to the finance committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Angelo Iacono
We will report back to the finance committee what we've completed today vis-à-vis the study of Bill C-15.
Next, do we have any recommendations to give the analysts regarding drafting instructions on the EV study?
Monsieur Bonin.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
I'll be brief.
We do have recommendations, but I propose that we email them, if possible.