Evidence of meeting #37 for Natural Resources in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sands.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Don Thompson  President, Oil Sands Developers Group
Lionel Lepine  Traditional Environmental Knowledge Coordinator, Industry Relations, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
Ezra Levant  As an Individual
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Lauzon
Ian Potter  Chief Operating Officer, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures
Vivian Krause  As an Individual
Jessie Inman  Executive Director, Corporate Development, HTC Purenergy Inc.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Just for the committee's sake and because I want to understand our process as a committee, we've sought a number of times to have other committees televised. This is such an important and national issue affecting many millions of Canadians. Yet today--and I don't wish to cast aspersions, Chair--I'm confused as to the process that led to us being televised today when we have a former Conservative candidate and a former Conservative employee with us, when on other days we've sought television coverage so that Canadians can better understand our hearings, and we've seen nothing.

What I'd like to understand, for the sake of all committee members, is how the process works so that we end up in these circumstances, which as you can expect are somewhat murky for me and perhaps for other committee members and Canadians watching.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Thank you, Mr. Cullen.

Actually, the process is very clear. If any member of the committee requests that a meeting be televised, it will be if we can find an appropriate room. The clerk does his best on every occasion to do that. It's that simple, really.

This was actually the first meeting in this series for which there's been a request to have it televised.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

It was also good fortune, because for this committee's meetings a number of requests to be televised were submitted and were not accepted. So was it just fortune that this room was available?

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Were there other requests for meetings?

December 7th, 2010 / 11:35 a.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Andrew Lauzon

I haven't had an official request.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

We haven't had a request.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

That was on this particular study, but we've made previous requests before, obviously.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Thank you, Mr. Cullen.

Mr. Anderson.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Mr. Chair, I'm not sure why Mr. Cullen.... I think we've raised this issue before. He knows full well if he asks to be on TV we try to accommodate that. I'm not sure that he's not trying to filibuster something here, so we should get back to our witnesses.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

It's the shortest filibuster in parliamentary history.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Mr. Cullen, please just let the clerk know if you'd like a meeting to be televised. If there's any way the clerk can get a room that will allow that, we will do it.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

As I said, Chair, and I mention this to the clerk--casting no aspersions on his good work, of course--I was just curious as to our process.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

He does his best.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

He does his very best.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

I'm sure he will try to get a room in which we can be televised if the request is sent.

11:35 a.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Thank you.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Go ahead, Madame Brunelle, for up to seven minutes, please.

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Good day, Mr. Lépine. I'm disturbed by what you are telling us today. Really, we know...

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Please hold on a minute.

Can you hear the interpretation?

Good.

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Let's start over again.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Great.

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Good day to everyone following these proceedings on television. Oh! oh!

11:35 a.m.

Voices

Oh, oh!

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Continue, Madame Brunelle.

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Good day, Mr. Lépine. I am deeply disturbed by what you said about first nations.

Of course we have heard about Mr. Schindler's research on the Athabasca River. News of this research travelled all the way back to Québec. Can you tell me just how polluted the river has become and how you use this waterway?

There is one other thing I'd like to know. You stated in your presentation that the rights of the Athabasca Chepewyan First Nation are gradually being eroded and that your ability to use your lands is being erased.

Help me to understand. Did you sign a land use agreement with the federal government? When was it signed? What did you mean when you said your rights are being eroded?