ENVI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 39

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, James Bezan, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Scott Armstrong, James Bezan, Bernard Bigras, Steven Blaney, Blaine Calkins, Linda Duncan, Gerard Kennedy, Joyce Murray, Christian Ouellet, Francis Scarpaleggia, Mark Warawa and Stephen Woodworth.

Acting Members present: David Anderson for Steven Blaney, David Anderson for Blaine Calkins and Tim Uppal for Steven Blaney.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Kristen E. Courtney, Analyst ; Tim Williams, Analyst . House of Commons: Wayne Cole, Legislative Clerk ; Julie Pelletier, Procedural Clerk.

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

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion moved by Mark Warawa on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(1), and after concluding hearings, the Committee recommends that the House of Commons not proceed further with Bill C-469, An Act to establish a Canadian Bill of Rights, because the Bill:

• will enable any resident of Canada to challenge any regulatory standard, at any time, thereby trumping the existing regulatory process, creating regulatory and investment unpredictability;

• will encroach on areas of provincial environmental jurisdiction;

• does not allow for the balance of the Social, Economic and Environmental pillars of Sustainable Development;

• overlaps with aspects of existing Federal legislation and policies which give rise to redundancy or conflict;

• removes numerous safeguards which ensure that environmental rights do not overwhelm government capacity and judicial resources.

The debate continued.

At 3:58 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), the sitting was suspended.

At 4:49 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Joyce Murray moved, — That the Committee proceed to the consideration of clause by clause of Bill C-469, An Act to establish a Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Bernard Bigras, Linda Duncan, Gerard Kennedy, Joyce Murray, Christian Ouellet, Francis Scarpaleggia — 6; NAYS: David Anderson, Scott Armstrong, Mark Warawa, Stephen Woodworth — 4.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, June 16, 2010, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-469, An Act to establish a Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of the Preamble and Clause 1 is postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

Clause 2 was allowed to stand.

The Chair called Clause 3.

Debate arose thereon.

At 5:30 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Guyanne L. Desforges
Clerk of the Committee

2010/12/06 4:12 p.m.