ENVI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met in a televised session at 3:39 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Bob Mills, presiding.

The Chair presented the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That two additional meetings be held on Bill C-474, An Act to require the development and implementation of a National Sustainable Development Strategy, the reporting of progress against a standard set of environmental indicators and the appointment of an independent Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development accountable to Parliament, and to adopt specific goals with respect to sustainable development in Canada, and to make consequential amendments to another Act.

2. That the first item of business of the Committee be Bill C-377, An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change, and that no other item be considered by the Committee until it has completed the consideration of the clause by clause of the Bill.

3. That the Standing Committee meet as follows:

— March 31, 2008: Bill C-377 (Clause by Clause);

— April 2, 2008: Bill C-474;

— April 7, 2008: Bill C-474;

— April 8, 2008: Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure;

— April 9, 2008: Bill C-474;

— April 14, 2008: Bill C-474 (Clause by Clause);

— April 16, 2008: Bill C-474 (Clause by Clause) or Bill C-469, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (use of phosphorus), if the Committee has completed clause by clause of Bill C- 474; and

— April 28, 2008: Bill C-469.

4. That the selection of witnesses for consideration of Bill C-474 be left to the discretion of the Chair and staff providing that the selection reflects equity by Party.

It was agreed, — That the report of the Subcommittee be concurred in.

It was agreed, — That the witnesses proposed for Bill C-474 in the draft proposed schedule be approved.

On Clause 10,

“(c) the level of Canadian greenhouse gas emissions in each of the following ten years to be used as a baseline to quantify the reductions referred to in paragraph (b).”

After further debate, the question was put on the amendment of Nathan Cullen and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

Debate arose on Clause 10, as amended.

Mark Warawa moved, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on division.

At 6:16 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 6:55 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That the Committee meet at 3:30 p.m. on April 1, 2008 to continue consideration of clause by clause of Bill C-377.

At 9:40 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.