Evidence of meeting #6 for Natural Resources in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clause.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
The amendment here, regarding subclause 37(2), would be to add “and the newspaper of record for each province and territory of Canada or national newspaper of record if the nuclear incident occurs outside of Canada” following Canada Gazette.
Oh, it's been changed into more legal language. I apologize for that.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Bevington is indicating he doesn't have any prewritten motion.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Here it is. It's that Bill C-5 in clause 37 be amended by replacing line 8 on page 12 with the following:
Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation in each province and territory of Canada or, if the nuclear incident occurs outside of Canada, in a newspaper in general circulation throughout Canada.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Could you bring a copy of that or could we get a copy of that at the table here?
Madame DeBellefeuille.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Are the amendments drafted in both official languages?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
No, we don't do that. When we're making an amendment, anyone can make a motion at the table here. We rely on translation to give you—
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Chairman, I believe the document was tabled in both languages and that the French version is available. So I'd like to have a copy of it. What I'm receiving here is the interpretation, not the translation.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
The researcher can read this into the record. It is written in both languages in the copy we've just received.
Mr. Anderson.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I think there's getting to be a certain amount of frustration around the table. It appears the NDP does have a prepared set that they haven't presented to the rest of us. I understand Ms. DeBellefeuille's frustration. She worked hard to get her amendments in on time, and now we seem to have a whole host of amendments that are coming forward without anyone on the committee having seen them ahead of time. So I'm wondering if the NDP is willing to give us a copy of those, or if there's some other reason for this happening.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Anderson, there is, of course, no requirement in clause-by-clause for amendments to be brought to the committee ahead of time. It's really strictly within the control of each individual member of the committee.
Mr. Bevington.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
We forwarded these to the clerk at 8:30 this morning by electronic means. We just got them back this morning from the drafter.
Conservative
Joann Garbig Procedural Clerk
That Bill C-5, in Clause 37, be amended by replacing line 8 on page 12 with the following:
Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation in each province and territory of Canada or, if the nuclear incident occurs outside of Canada, in a newspaper in general circulation throughout Canada.
I'll now read the English:
That Bill C-5, in Clause 37, be amended by replacing line 8 on page 12 with the following:
Canada Gazette and in a newspaper in general circulation in each province and territory of Canada or, if the nuclear incident occurs outside of Canada, in a newspaper in general circulation throughout Canada.
Conservative
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
I have a question for the officials.
If an incident occurs outside of Canada, this act does not apply to it. Is that correct?
Acting Director, Uranium and Radioactive Waste Division, Department of Natural Resources
That's correct.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga—Erindale, ON
So we may want to consider just deleting the last section, then—speaking through you, Mr. Chair, to Mr. Bevington—about the incident occurring outside of Canada. I don't have a problem with the addition of advertising it in a provincial newspaper, but I'm not sure that if the incident occurs outside of Canada it applies to this act.
Thank you.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I have just one point.
I think the amendment is unnecessary. Subclause 37(1) says clearly “The Tribunal shall notify the public, in a manner that it considers appropriate”, and I would suspect that in the event that we have an incident, it would be highly publicized and it would be well known that the tribunal has been appointed and what the purpose of it is.
Conservative
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Bevington's amendment might perhaps be justified in the event of an incident occurring in the United States and causing damage in Canada, having regard to the reciprocity agreement between our country and the United States. Here I'm thinking of the fact that we can announce an incident that has occurred in the United States in a national newspaper.