Debates of May 12th, 1999

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-32, an act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development, as reported (with amendments) from the committee.

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, I have decided on a ruling for groups for report stage of Bill C-32, an act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development.

There are 236 motions in amendment standing on the Notice Paper for the report stage of Bill C-32.

The motions will be grouped for debate as follows.

Group No. 1: Motions Nos. 1 to 3, 13, 14, 26, 61 to 68, 71, 83 to 91, 93 to 97, 101, 108 to 113, 115, 117, 118, 122, 123, 128, 130, 132, 136 and 206.

Group No. 2: Motions Nos. 4, 5, 11, 12, 15, 25, 30 to 33, 39, 42, 43, 46, 48 to 52, 56 to 60, 69, 74, 80, 81, 105 to 107, 116, 119 to 121, 125, 129, 133, 146, 147, 155, 156, 159 to 161, 167, 169, 171 to 174, 176, 181, 183, 189, 195, 197, 203 to 205, 207 to 213, 215 and 225.

Group No. 3: Motions Nos. 6, 7, 137 to 139, 148 to 150.

Group No. 4: Motions Nos. 8 to 10, 16, 18, 19, 22 to 24 and 47.

Group No. 5: Motions Nos. 17, 20, 21, 27 to 29, 34, 35, 40, 45, 54, 55, 72, 75 to 79, 82, 92, 98 to 100, 102 to 104, 114, 124, 126, 127, 131, 134, 136, 140 to 145, 152, 157, 158, 162 to 166, 168, 170, 175, 177 to 180, 182, 184, 188, 190, 196, 199, 216 to 224, 226 to 229, 232, 234 to 236.

Group No. 6: Motions Nos. 36 to 38, 41, 70 and 73.

Group No. 7: Motions Nos. 53, 151, 153, 154, 185 to 187, 191 to 194, 198, 200 to 202.

Group No. 8: Motions Nos. 214, 230, 231 and 233.

The voting patterns for the motions within each group are available at the table. The Chair will remind the House of each pattern at the time of voting.

I shall now put Motions Nos. 1 to 3, 13, 14, 26, 61 to 68, 71, 83 to 91, 93 to 97, 101, 108 to 113, 115, 117, 118, 122, 123, 128, 130, 132, 135 and 206 to the House. These are the motions in Group No. 1.

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 1

That Bill C-32, in the preamble, be amended by replacing lines 19 to 21 on page 1 with the following:

“knowledges the need to”

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, for the Minister of the Environment]

moved:

Motion No. 2

That Bill C-32, in the preamble, be amended by replacing lines 19 and 20 on page 1 with the following:

“knowledges the need to virtually eliminate the most persistent and bioac-”

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

moved:

Motion No. 3

That Bill C-32, in the preamble, be amended by replacing line 19 on page 1 with the following:

“knowledges, with the agreement of the governments of the provinces concerned, the need to phase out the genera-”

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 13

That Bill C-32, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 12 to 16 on page 4 with the following: j ) endeavour to protect the environment including its biological diversity, and human health, from the release of toxic substances;”

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, for the Minister of the Environment]

moved:

Motion No. 14

That Bill C-32, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 14 to 16 on page 4 with the following:

“from the risk of any adverse effects of the use and release of toxic substances, pollutants and wastes; j .1) protect the environment, including its biological diversity, and human health, by ensuring the safe and effective use of biotechnology;”

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

moved:

Motion No. 26

That Bill C-32, in Clause 6, be amended by adding after line 38 on page 11 the following:

“(1.2) In subsection (1.1) “precautionary principle” means that where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.”

Motion No. 61

That Bill C-32, in Clause 64, be amended by replacing lines 34 to 39 on page 38 and lines 1 to 4 on page 39 with the following:

“entering or may enter the environment and ( a ) has or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity; ( b ) constitutes or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends; or ( c ) constitutes or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.”

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 62

That Bill C-32, in Clause 65, be amended by replacing lines 10 to 28 on page 39 with the following:

“below any measurable quantity or concentration that is at or approaching the level of quantification, as defined by the regulations, and that a ) is specified by the Ministers or prescribed; and b ) in the opinion of the Ministers, results or may result in a harmful effect on the environment or human life or health.

(2) For the purposes of implementing the virtual elimination of a substance, any factor or information that, in the opinion of the Ministers, is relevant shall be taken into consideration as provided for in section 91, including, but not limited to, environmental or health risks and any other relevant social, economic or technical matters.”

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

moved:

Motion No. 63

That Bill C-32, in Clause 65, be amended by replacing lines 10 to 28 on page 39 with the following:

“below any measurable quantity or concentration that is at or approaching the level of quantification, as defined by the regulations, and that a ) is specified by the Ministers or prescribed; and b ) in the opinion of the Ministers, results or may result in a harmful effect on the environment or human life or health.

(2) For the purposes of implementing the virtual elimination of a substance, any factor or information that, in the opinion of the Ministers, is relevant shall be taken into consideration as provided for in section 91, including, but not limited to, environmental or health risks and any other relevant social, economic or technical matters.”

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, for the Minister of the Environment]

moved:

Motion No. 64

That Bill C-32, in Clause 65, be amended by replacing, in the French version, lines 13 to 15 on page 39 with the following:

“(2) Les ministres établissent une liste de substances—la liste de quasi-élimination—qui précise la limite de dosage de chaque substance.”

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

moved:

Motion No. 65

That Bill C-32, in Clause 65, be amended by replacing lines 17 to 19 on page 39 with the following:

“(3) When a substance is added to the Virtual Elimination List, the Ministers shall recommend that a regulation be made under paragraph 93(1)( w .1) prescribing the quantity or concentration of the”

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 66

That Bill C-32, in Clause 65, be amended by replacing lines 17 and 18 on page 39 with the following:

“(3) When a substance has been listed for virtual elimination, the Ministers shall”

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, for the Minister of the Environment]

moved:

Motion No. 67

That Bill C-32, in Clause 65, be amended by replacing lines 17 and 18 on page 39 with the following:

“(3) When the level of quantification for a substance has been specified on the List referred to in subsection (2), the Ministers shall”

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 68

That Bill C-32 be amended by deleting Clause 65.1.

Motion No. 71

That Bill C-32, in Clause 67, be amended by replacing line 7 on page 41 with the following:

“tion (1) unless”

[Rick Laliberte, NDP, Churchill River, SK]

moved:

Motion No. 83

That Bill C-32 be amended by adding after line 41 on page 47 the following new clause:

“76.2 In section 76.1, “precautionary principle” means the principle that where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.”

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

moved:

Motion No. 84

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing line 30 on page 48 with the following:

“subsection (4), achieving virtual elimination by implementing subsection 65(3).”

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 85

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing line 30 on page 48 with the following:

“subsection (4), the implementation of subsection 65(3).”

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, for the Minister of the Environment]

moved:

Motion No. 86

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing line 30 on page 48 with the following:

“subsection (4), the implementation of virtual elimination under subsection 65(3).”

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 87

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing line 32 on page 48 with the following:

“conducted under section 74 the substance is determined to be toxic and the Ministers are”

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, for the Minister of the Environment]

moved:

Motion No. 88

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing lines 32 to 36 on page 48 with the following:

“conducted under section 74, the substance is determined to be toxic or capable of becoming toxic, and the Ministers are satisfied that a ) the substance may have a long-term harmful effect on the environment and is”

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

moved:

Motion No. 89

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing lines 16 and 17 on page 49 with the following:

“the Ministers shall propose achieving virtual elimination of the substance under this Act by implementing subsection 65(3).”

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved:

Motion No. 90

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing lines 16 and 17 on page 49 with the following:

“the Ministers shall propose the implementation of subsection 65(3) in respect of the substance.”

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, for the Minister of the Environment]

moved:

Motion No. 91

That Bill C-32, in Clause 77, be amended by replacing lines 16 and 17 on page 49 with the following:

“the Ministers shall propose the implementation of virtual elimination under subsection 65(3) of the substance.”

[John Herron, Progressive Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

moved:

Motion No. 93

That Bill C-32, in Clause 79, be amended by replacing lines 18 and 19 on page 51 with the following:

“sure, as confirmed or amended, to achieve virtual elimination in respect of a substance by implementing subsection 65(3), the”