Evidence of meeting #43 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mexico.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Welcome, everyone, to meeting 43 of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, December 6, 2010, we are studying Bill S-5, An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
We are here today to do clause-by-clause on this bill.
Mr. Bevington has advised us that he may be 15 minutes late and has asked the committee to wait. I'm looking for direction from the committee.
December 9th, 2010 / 11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
We didn't have to wait very long. That's perfect then. Thank you.
I just want everybody to hear my first comment. In yesterday's report that we sent to the House on Bill C-42, there was one mistake in the report that suggested that after the timeframe we would review. We discussed that. In the words that were put in the report, it was to review the act. The government is going to propose an amendment at report stage that we review that section of the act--so there are no surprises when it happens in the House and nobody will feel they've been blindsided.
Mr. Jean.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Just a matter of procedure, Mr. Chair, I understand that the committee did resolve to have that reported to the House. Being that we're the masters of our own destiny, is there no way we can fix that at this stage to avoid the complication of having an amendment there? Could we not just deal with it?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Regrettably, no. Once it's at report stage, it has to be amended at that stage.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
So we're masters of our own destiny at report stage, but not after.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
When it's sent back to the House, it's for the House to deal with, regrettably.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
When it happens, I want to make sure everybody is aware of it, and that's the only thing we're correcting.
Mr. Guimond, the floor is yours.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I understand the amendment perfectly well on a technical level, but is the 5-year period the same one Mr. McCallum asked for?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Everything will stay the same. The only thing we're saying is we're not going to review the entire act; we're going to review this section of the act.
Mr. Bevington, just for your information, I've opened the meeting and announced that we're going to move to clause-by-clause on Bill S-5.
Although we don't have witnesses directly sitting at the table, we do have members from Environment Canada and Transport Canada who, if there are questions or outstanding issues, can come forward and answer.
Mr. Dhaliwal.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Why don't you bring them forward to the table anyway just in case we have questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Well, if they're here, I might ask them to join us at the table. Then we won't have the delays.
If you wouldn't mind, that would be greatly appreciated. I believe we have people from Environment Canada and Transport Canada.
As they're taking their chairs, I'll welcome them. I think everybody is anxious to move forward with the clause-by-clause.
Mr. Dhaliwal.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
I have a question regarding this act and the implementation. Would it be okay if I ask them?
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Since we've only had this bill for one day, and since we're going into clause-by-clause here.... We support this bill generally. There may be amendments that we may present at report stage.
Conservative
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Mr. Bevington, if that indeed is the case, if you would be prepared to provide me with those amendments, we could probably talk about them and deal with them without having to hold up the House.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I think what I'll do then, because there are no proposed amendments at this time, is just open the floor, and if we have questions to be asked directly of our guests, we can do that, and then move to clause-by-clause.
Mr. Dhaliwal.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank the panel members.
Mr. Chair, through you, my question to the fellows at the witness table is this. We're going to pass this legislation. It's my understanding that Mexico has already implemented a similar reciprocal agreement as of January 1, 2009, and now we are already heading into 2011. If we pass this legislation, if this legislation goes through here, how long would it take to implement this legislation? How much more delay are we looking at on the part of government?
Kash Ram Director General, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation, Department of Transport
Thank you.
Mr. Chair, typically, it would take about a year to two years to draft and enact regulations that would allow the importation of vehicles, once the legislation has been passed.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
A follow-up. You are saying one to two years, so basically we're four years behind Mexico. Is any one of you in a position to say why it would be that way?
Director General, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation, Department of Transport
In order for us to draft regulations and to consult with Canadian stakeholders, there is a process we have to abide by under the cabinet directive on streamlining regulation to give opportunities to all interested Canadian stakeholders to comment, and in order to abide by that process there is a timeline we have to abide by.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
No, no, Mr. Chair, the timeline is there. My concern is why we are four years behind in that process that you are going through now. I fully understand that you've got to go through stakeholders, you have to consult many people, but why did it not happen four years ago when Mexico or its counterpart was doing it at that time? That is the question I ask.
