ENVI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 21

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met in a televised session at 9:34 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Bob Mills, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Bernard Bigras, Nathan Cullen, Hon. Mark Eyking, Hon. John Godfrey, Luc Harvey, Marcel Lussier, Bob Mills, Pablo Rodriguez, Mario Silva, Maurice Vellacott, Mark Warawa and Jeff Watson.

Acting Members present: Francis Scarpaleggia for Hon. Mark Eyking and Francis Scarpaleggia for Mario Silva.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Sam Banks, Analyst ; Tim Williams, Analyst . House of Commons: Justin Vaive, Committee Clerk.

Witnesses: Department of the Environment: Basia Ruta, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer; Craig Ferguson, Director General, Corporate Management Directorate; Mr. Hani Mokhtar, Director General, Financial Services Directorate; Alex Manson, A/Director General, Domestic Climate Change Policy.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the Committee commenced consideration of the Main Estimates 2006-2007: Environment, Votes 1, 5 and 10, referred to the Committee on Tuesday, April 25, 2006.

Basia Ruta made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

Pablo Rodriguez moved, — That in relation to its study of Bill C-288, An Act to ensure Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development begin its study of the bill no later than Thursday, November 2, 2006, proceed to clause by clause study no later than Tuesday, November 21, 2006, and report the bill back to the House no later than Thursday, November 23, 2006.

Mark Warawa moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “begin its study of the bill no later than Thursday, November 2, 2006, proceed to clause by clause study no later than Tuesday, November 21, 2006, and report the bill back to the House no later than Thursday, November 23, 2006.” with the words “begin its study of the Bill after the mandated 5-year review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is complete or until after the winter break (Christmas recess), whichever comes first”.

The question was put on the amendment of Mark Warawa and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Luc Harvey, Maurice Vellacott, Mark Warawa, Jeff Watson — 4; NAYS: Bernard Bigras, Nathan Cullen, Mark Eyking, John Godfrey, Marcel Lussier, Pablo Rodriguez, Francis Scarpaleggia — 7.

By unanimous consent, the following motion was moved, — That in relation to its study of Bill C-288, An Act to ensure Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development begin its study of the bill no later than Thursday, November 2, 2006, proceed to clause by clause study no later than Tuesday, December 5, 2006, and report the bill back to the House no later than Thursday, December 7, 2006.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Bernard Bigras, Nathan Cullen, Mark Eyking, John Godfrey, Luc Harvey, Marcel Lussier, Pablo Rodriguez, Francis Scarpaleggia, Mark Warawa, Jeff Watson — 10; NAYS: — 0.

Nathan Cullen moved, — That the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development strongly urge the Minister of the Environment to re-appear before the Committee forthwith to address matters in her testimony on October, 5, 2006, namely: (1) government funds spent on Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs) and what Canada has received in terms of credits or compliance with the Kyoto Protocol; (2) the rise in consumer energy costs that Canadians would experience if Canada seeks to achieve its Kyoto targets; (3) the impact of C-30 on reducing greenhouse gases; and (4) the relationship between reducing smog and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

At 11:45 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Eugene Morawski
Clerk of the Committee

2006/10/31 3:30 p.m.