ENVI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met in camera at 3:33 p.m. this day, in Room 306, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Mark Warawa, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Third Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

Your Subcommittee met on Thursday, March 15, 2012, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed with the following:

1. That the Committee adopt the “Study Scope and Overview” as outlined below as a an outline for how it will engage in the National Conservation Plan (NCP) study;

2. That the Clerk of the Committee send out a public call as soon as possible for persons and groups wishing to appear before the Committee regarding the NCP;

3. That, in this public call, the Clerk notify the public that written submissions should pertain to the “Study Scope and Overview” and should be forwarded to the Committee no later than Wednesday, May 16, 2012; and

4. That the Clerk publish on the Committee’s website a press release containing this information.

“STUDY SCOPE AND OVERVIEW”

The Committee is undertaking a study to provide recommendations to the Minister of the Environment to help develop the National Conservation Plan (NCP) by consulting with a range of stakeholder groups, summarizing the Committee’s view on what the NCP should entail based on these consultations, and recommending avenues of further consultation for the Minister of the Environment.

The scope of the study is as follows, with witnesses and interested parties being asked to comment on or provide written briefs regarding the following potential elements of an NCP:

1) What should be the purpose of a NCP?

2) What should be the goals of a NCP?

3) What guiding principles should govern a NCP?

4) What conservation priorities should be included in a NCP?

5) What should be the implementation priorities of a NCP?

6) What consultation process should the Minister consider using when developing a NCP?

The Committee invites written briefs and will hear testimony from a diverse group of stakeholder groups, including representatives from:

• Non-governmental organizations (i.e. conservation groups, environmental non-governmental organizations, etc.);

• Private sector organizations (i.e. trade association, industry groups, etc.);

• Academia;

• Aboriginal organizations;

• Federal governmental officials (i.e. representatives from departments involved in conservation activities, policy development, etc.);

• Representatives from provincial and municipal governments;

• Other interested individuals.

5. That the Committee travel to various locations in western and eastern Canada, in relation to its study to provide recommendations regarding the development of a National Conservation Plan, before the Summer Adjournment of the House of Commons, and that a travel budget be prepared by the Clerk and presented to the Committee;

6. That members of the Committee submit to the Clerk of the Committee, as soon as possible, their lists of potential witnesses for the study to provide recommendations regarding the development of a National Conservation Plan; and

7. That the Chair, in consultation with the Clerk and the Analysts, use his discretion to schedule witnesses to appear in themed panels, when feasible, and subject to their availability.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to the study to provide recommendations regarding the development of a National Conservation Plan, the proposed budget in the amount of $ 36,650 be adopted.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to the study to provide recommendations regarding the development of a National Conservation Plan, the proposed budget in the amount of $ 37,823,10, for the Committee’s travel to Halifax, Lunenberg and Prospect, Nova Scotia, in Spring 2012, be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to the study to provide recommendations regarding the development of a National Conservation Plan, the proposed budget in the amount of $ 70,770,50, for the Committee’s travel to Nanaimo and Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Olds and Longview, Alberta, in Spring 2012, be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Liaison Committee.

At 4:09 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:14 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Andrea Barnett, Karla Guyn, Alison Woodley and Bill Wareham, by videoconference from Vancouver, British Columbia, made statements and answered questions.

At 5:33 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.