Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  This is important. I have heard a lot of nonsense about it. However, as a former sovereignist MP, I am very interested in the issue of overlap between provincial and federal authority. As you know, there are already some agreements on environmental assessments between the federa

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  Yes, I have a very simple example. Corridor Resources Inc. carried out a study on its project, Old Harry, located in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Environment Canada told that company that its assessment was invalid because it seemed to indicate that the oil could not s

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  Under the new environmental assessment provisions, environmental impacts will be limited to the impacts on fish, aquatic species protected by the legislation, and migratory birds—with the exception of federal land. That scope is extremely limited and will allow for a laisser-fair

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  On behalf of Nature Québec, I want to thank the members of the Subcommittee on Bill C-38 for having me this evening. I will make my presentation in French. Nature Québec is a non-profit organization that brings together individuals and 120 conservation organizations from across

Subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Finance on Bill C-38 committee  Yes, Mr. Chair, I am ready.

Environment committee  I can answer if you like.

Environment committee  We're in favour of measures that place a true value on carbon, to ensure it is used wisely. Those measures are complex and may be the subject of other presentations. To reassure your colleague on the shale gas issues or whatever, natural resources are not covered in this bill...

Environment committee  Naturally, yes, that's wiser.

Environment committee  Nature Québec is a member of Nature Canada, but it is still an independent organization. Certainly we are also interested in greenhouse gases, of course.

Environment committee  We will be happy to come back and discuss it. At present, we're considering Bill C-469. I would actually like to take the opportunity to respond to a comment by Mr. Blaney, the member for Lévis—Bellechasse, I think...

Environment committee  I didn't understand clearly. Can you repeat your question, please?

Environment committee  I think the bill contains that provision, which is very similar to the brief. That's what we call it. I think you can, in practice, file a complaint with the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. The opportunity to exert influence and participate doesn't e

Environment committee  There are judgments relating to environmental legislation. I'm not a lawyer, and Mr. Bélanger may be able to give you additional information. However, we know that municipalities' ability to take action to protect the environment, in particular against the destruction of wetlands

Environment committee  Clause 9(2) of Bill C-469 says: (2) The Government of Canada has an obligation, within its jurisdiction, to protect the right of every resident of Canada to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment. Clause 8, which refers to the scope of application, says: 8. The pr

Environment committee  I would like to add one thing, Mr. Chair. In the French version of the bill, the expression "principe de prudence" is used. Ordinarily, in French we talk about "principe de précaution". I don't know whether this is what is found in all legislation, but I think it's important to m