Natural Resources Committee on April 6th, 2022

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

To clarify, we have this study on a just transition that we're launching into. Is it going to be taking time from our just transition study to have this next piece? How would that get scheduled?

I think it's relevant. I just want to know how it's going to be scheduled.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

If we're delaying this, it will bump into the just transition study. We also have the motion for the study we're trying to conclude today, which also includes a tabling date of April 28. That will push that.

Those are things to keep in mind as we're voting on this motion that has just been put before us.

Charlie.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Thank you.

I would normally totally support my colleague, and I always think it's important to have people come, but we have two major studies that we have to get the reports out for. I think it damages the credibility of our committee to have done that much work and we still don't have the methane reduction thing done.

I'm just surprised. We're taking time here tonight. I don't think we're going to get it done tonight, so it's going to take another time. We've committed to meetings on just transition, so if we keep throwing other things in there, we're not going to get anything done. I'd rather just get the vote done.

We need to make a decision about the methane report. Then we're going to have major instructions on the emissions cap. That is a major study we've just undertaken. We have to do this thing right.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

I have Mr. Simard, and then if there's nobody else, we'll vote.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

What is damaging to the reputation of the committee is that a deputy minister can cite technical problems to avoid appearing. I'm not saying that the allegation of technical problems was unfounded, but it's a bit of an easy excuse. In sticky situations, every deputy minister could now invoke a technical problem to avoid appearing before the committee.

I think the diligence of a parliamentarian should be paramount. I think what we should do is vote on the motion to invite the deputy minister back so we can ask him questions, especially since we have received some information today that is very troublesome and is related to our study on capping GHG emissions.

In my opinion, this completely changes the interventions of several witnesses. So I don't see why we would rush to another study to sweep under the rug a government action that is very questionable from an environmental perspective.

I have great difficulty in grasping my colleague Mr. Angus' logic in this regard. Just as I have difficulty grasping the logic of the government, I do not see what pretext we have for allowing a deputy minister not to testify. To swallow this tactic is to abandon our responsibility as parliamentarians.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Thank you.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Can we just clarify so that the record is clear?

I still believe this vote is inappropriate but, nonetheless, just so the record has no errors in it, it is the assistant deputy minister, not the deputy minister. It's the assistant deputy minister of the environment, not natural resources, for Mr. Genuis's interest since he suddenly has a keen interest in the subject of his attending.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I suspect this issue is more important in my riding than in yours.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

I'd like to speak now.

To clarify, today we had invited John Moffet, assistant deputy minister, environmental protection branch.

We have a motion that's been put forward. We can repeat it, and then we'll have the vote on what has been put before us.

We don't have the wording so we'll need to write it down and then we'll have the vote.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Perhaps Mr. Simard could repeat what I said.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Here is the motion that my colleague has put forward:

That the committee invite again the assistant deputy minister to appear for one hour, at the earliest opportunity.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

That's right.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

That is the motion.

(Motion negatived)

With that I'm going to suspend this part of the meeting.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I have a question on that.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

We'll bring our analysts back in to do a quick discussion on drafting instructions.

I also want to thank the officials for being with us today.

You are free to go, if you want to drop off-line or leave the room. Thanks for being here.

Charlie, before I suspend, please go ahead.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Because I wasn't told we were going to be going later and I have other meetings, I would like to have a sense of how long we're going to be in camera.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

If I can suspend this, we can get back into it and we'll see. We only have the room for another five minutes or so. Actually, we have the room for 10 minutes. That's the clock that we're up against.

The meeting is suspended.

[Proceedings continue in camera]