Environment committee  The motion is as follows: That the committee undertake a study of the supplementary estimates (B), 2022-23, referred to the committee on Thursday, November 17, 2022, that the Minister of Environment and Climate Change appear before the committee on the supplementary estimates (B), 2022-23, for two hours, and that this meeting be held as soon as possible and televised.

Environment committee  This will prioritize animal replacement and the timely incorporation of these methods into regulatory risk assessment, complemented by a national strategic road map and sustainable funding for the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods, so as to catalyze our domestic effort—in partnership with Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada—and meet the government's goal of ending toxicity testing by 2035. I represent Canada's national hub and international interface. I have a seat at the table in international consortia on alternatives to animal testing.

Environment committee  We have to make sure, when we're looking at changes to confidential business information, that we're not creating a condition where Canadians are not getting access to the newest, safest chemistries that will help to solve solutions for clean air; clean water; safe, nutritious and abundant food; and to address climate change. That all depends on innovative chemistries. We can't create boundaries under CEPA that are inconsistent with the overarching architecture of how the Government of Canada addresses confidential information, and restrict the industry's willingness to introduce those products.

Environment committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Honourable members, thank you for the invitation to discuss Bill S-5, the Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, which proposes amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. To begin, I'd like to acknowledge that we are on the ancestral lands of first nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, either physically or virtually.

Environment committee  I had the opportunity and privilege to be appointed as a minister of the shadow cabinet. In other words, I am the Official Opposition Critic for Environment and Climate Change. I am very honoured to have my party leader’s trust in this. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to debate with the minister. In Quebec, he is a well known figure, and for good reason.

Environment committee  We're doing just that, but if you have specific amendments you would like to see brought forward on this particular element, my team and I, and Environment and Climate Change Canada, will be happy to consider them.

Environment committee  Part 6 of CEPA provides a framework to regulate the assessment and management of new living organisms, including genetically modified organisms. As you know, on October 13 of this year, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada launched consultations to help determine how the new substance notification regulations for organisms can better protect human health and the environment through increased openness and transparency in both risk assessment and the regulatory decision-making process.

Environment committee  Maybe I can answer that. I am John Moffet, the ADM at the environmental protection branch at Environment and Climate Change Canada. There are two parts to your question. One is with respect to the 98% and the second is with respect to what we are improving. First of all, in fact we're not slow. We are the fastest country in the world with respect to having assessed all of the substances in commerce in the 1980s.

Environment committee  We have heard conflicting testimony on the impact of this. I'm curious whether Environment and Climate Change Canada is confident, based on the legal advice it has received, that the removal of the title, the list of toxic substances, will not impact the constitutionality of CEPA as a criminal law power.

Environment committee  I would say that it's surprising that this definition isn't part of the bill and is being deferred to the implementation framework, as I understand it from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. As I said, we're not a group with expertise in this area. However, I think it's frustrating for everyone, and it's obvious that it would have been better to include a definition in the bill.

Environment committee  When they have to provide drinking water to their citizens, for example, they understand what's happening with climate change. You're so environmentally conscious that you are appearing before a House of Commons committee, which is pretty impressive. My question is similar to a question asked earlier. Did your school curriculum include any lessons on this topic?

Environment committee  I would just refer people to the United Nations document on a call to action for human rights and the rights of future generations. It talks about the interlinked crises of climate change, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and pollution as violating the rights of people—everyday countless people—and threatening the effective enjoyment of human rights of future generations.

Environment committee  It's unclear which standards or products this is addressing. Work is also being undertaken by Environment and Climate Change Canada and by Health Canada to explore voluntary and mandatory mechanisms for further labelling of consumer products and to greater clarify the supply chains. This work is going to be capable of delivering on some of the expectations that would otherwise have been placed on the Minister of Industry in delivering his report.

Environment committee  In b), we could say, “Invite Alberta's Energy Regulator, representatives of Environment and Climate Change Canada, and representatives of the Government of Northwest Territories for a two-hour meeting”. In other words, the amendment to this motion is very simple. We amend b) and c) to include some stakeholders we hadn't mentioned.

Environment committee  The motion up until b) is the same, and then b) would say, “Invite Alberta’s Energy Regulator, representatives of Environment and Climate Change Canada, and representatives of the Government of Northwest Territories for a two-hour meeting, to answer questions”. Then c) would be amended to read, “Invite, at a minimum, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Mikisew Cree First Nation, the Fort Chipewyan Metis Nation, the Fort McMurray First Nation 468, the McMurray Metis 1935, the Fort McKay Metis Nation, and the Fort McKay First Nation, for a two-hour meeting to provide a testimony to the Committee about how this incident is affecting their communities.”