ENVI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 57

Thursday, May 10, 2007

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met in a televised session at 11:10 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Bob Mills, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Mike Allen, Bernard Bigras, Nathan Cullen, Luc Harvey, Marcel Lussier, David J. McGuinty, Bob Mills, Hon. Geoff Regan, Anthony Rota, Francis Scarpaleggia, Maurice Vellacott and Mark Warawa.

Associate Members present: Hon. John Godfrey.

Other Members present: Hon. Maria Minna.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Tim Williams, Analyst ; Sam Banks, Analyst.

Witnesses: Department of the Environment: James Van Loon, Manager, Policy and Planning, Regulatory Innovation and Management Systems, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Directorate, Environmental Stewardship Branch. Department of Justice: Daniel Blasioli, Senior Counsel.

On motion of David J. McGuinty, it was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to the next item on the agenda.

At 11:13 a.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

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

It was agreed, — That the First Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which reads as follows, be concurred in:

1. That, on May 10, the Committee consider clause by clause study of Bill C-298.

2. That, on May 15, the Committee hold a meeting on the subject of Carbon Sequestration.

3. That, on May 16 and May 17, the Committee proceed to its study of the government's climate change plan - entitled “Turning the Corner“, and that the Committee invite officials, in writting, from Environment Canada, Finance Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Health Canada.

4. That, on May 29, the Minister of the Environment appear to discuss the Main Estimates and the government's climate change plan - entitled “Turning the Corner“.

5. That, on May 31, the Committee begin consideration of Bill C-377.

At 11:29 a.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in public.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, November 1, 2006, the Committee commenced consideration of Bill C-298, An Act to add perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) to the Virtual Elimination List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

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

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

The Chair called Clause 2.

By unanimous consent, Clause 2 was allowed to stand.

Mark Warawa made a statement.

Maria Minna made a statement.

On Clause 3,

Mark Warawa moved, — That Bill C-298, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 18 to 22 on page 1 and lines 1 to 12 on page 2 with the following:

“3. (1) The Ministers shall, within nine months after the coming into force of this Act, make a regulation to add perfluorooctane sulfonate and its salts to the Virtual Elimination List compiled under subsection 65(2) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

(2) The Ministers are not required to specify in the regulation referred to in subsection (1) the level of quantification for perfluorooctane sulfonate or its salts, despite subsection 65(2) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

(3) If the Ministers specify in the Virtual Elimination List the level of quantification for perfluorooctane sulfonate or its salts, the Ministers are not required to make the regulation described in subsection 65(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mark Warawa and it was agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, carried.

The Committee reverted to Clause 2 previously stood.

On Clause 2,

Mark Warawa moved, — That Bill C-298, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 6 to 17 on page 1 with the following:

“2. In this Act, “Ministers” means the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mark Warawa and it was agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, carried.

On Short Title,

Mark Warawa moved, — That Bill C-298, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing, in the French version, line 4 on page 1 with the following:

“1. Loi sur la quasi-élimination du sulfonate”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mark Warawa and it was agreed to.

The Short Title, as amended, carried.

On Title,

Mark Warawa moved, — That Bill C-298 be amended by replacing the long title on page 1 with the following:

“An Act to add perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its salts to the Virtual Elimination List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mark Warawa and it was agreed to.

The Title, as amended, carried.

The Bill, as amended, carried.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-298, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.

At 11:51 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Justin Vaive
Clerk of the Committee

2007/10/11 11:52 a.m.