ENVI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Bob Mills, presiding.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to the consideration of its future business.

It was agreed, — That the Hon. John Godfrey be invited to appear in relation to 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.

It was agreed, — That a representative from Justice Canada be invited to appear in relation to Bill C-474.

On motion of Nathan Cullen, it was agreed, — That all future meetings of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development for the consideration of Bill C-377, An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change, be televised.

It was agreed, — That the Committee be granted an operational budget of $2,345.00 for its study of Bill C-377.

It was agreed, — That the Committee be granted an operational budget of $7,700.00 for its study of Bill C-474.

Mark Warawa moved, — That pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(1), the Committee report to the House to seek a thirty sitting day extension for the consideration of Bill C-377 due to a lack of economic analysis.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 7.

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.

By unanimous consent, Clause 2 was allowed to stand.

After debate, Clause 3 carried by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 5.

Clause 4 carried by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

On Clause 5,

“reduced, subject to the ultimate objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bernard Bigras and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Bernard Bigras, Nathan Cullen, John Godfrey, Marcel Lussier, David J. McGuinty, Geoff Regan, Francis Scarpaleggia — 7; NAYS: Luc Harvey, Maurice Vellacott, Mark Warawa, Jeff Watson — 4.

Clause 5, as amended, carried by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

On Clause 6,

“2040 and 2045. The target plan shall

(a) establish a Canadian greenhouse gas emissions target for each of those years;

(b) specify the scientific, economic and technological evidence and analysis used to establish each target, including consideration of the latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the most stringent greenhouse gas emissions targets adopted by other national governments; and

(c) show that each target is consistent with a responsible contribution by Canada to the UNFCCC’s ultimate objective of preventing dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system and with Parliament’s strong commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of John Godfrey and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

Clause 6, as amended, carried.

On Clause 7,

“regulations under this or any other Act within the limits of federal constitutional authority

(a) limiting the amount of greenhouse gases that may be released into the environment;

(b) limiting the amount of greenhouse gases that may be released in each province by applying to each province the commitment made under section 5 and the interim Canadian greenhouse gas emission targets referred to in section 6;

(c) establishing performance standards designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions;

(d) respecting the use or production of any equipment, technology, fuel, vehicle or process in order to limit greenhouse gas emissions;

(e) respecting permits or approvals for the release of any greenhouse gas;

(f) respecting trading in greenhouse gas emission reductions, removals, permits, credits, or other units;

(g) respecting monitoring, inspections, investigations, reporting, enforcement, penalties or other matters to promote compliance with regulations made under this Act;

(h) designating the contravention of a provision or class of provisions of the regulations by a person or class of persons as an offence punishable by indictment or on summary conviction and prescribing, for a person or class of persons, the amount of the fine and imprisonment for the offence; and

(i) respecting any other matter that is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(2) Despite paragraph (1)(b), and for greater certainty, each province may take any measure that it considers appropriate to limit greenhouse gas emissions.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Nathan Cullen and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

Clause 7, as amended, carried on the following recorded division: YEAS: Bernard Bigras, Nathan Cullen, John Godfrey, Marcel Lussier, David J. McGuinty, Geoff Regan, Francis Scarpaleggia — 7; NAYS: Luc Harvey, Maurice Vellacott, Mark Warawa, Jeff Watson — 4.

Clause 8 carried.

On Clause 9,

“other entities, particularly discussions and negotiations resulting from decisions of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC and of the Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, are fully consistent with meet-”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of John Godfrey and it was agreed to.

“(c) making, amending or repealing, pursuant to section 7, the necessary regulations under this or any other Act.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bernard Bigras and it was agreed to.

“(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) to ensure Canada meets the target referred to in paragraph 5(a) and each of the interim Canadian greenhouse gas emission targets referred to in section 6 shall be made, amended or repealed under paragraph 9(1)(c)

(a) on or before December 31, 2008, in the case of the target for 2015; and

(b) at least ten years before the start of the year to which the target applies, in the case of all the other targets.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Nathan Cullen and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Bernard Bigras, Nathan Cullen, John Godfrey, Marcel Lussier, Geoff Regan, Francis Scarpaleggia — 6; NAYS: Luc Harvey, Maurice Vellacott, Mark Warawa, Jeff Watson — 4.

“(3) In ensuring that Canada fully meets its commitments under sections 5 and 6, pursuant to subsections (1) and (2), the Governor in Council may take into account any reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that are reasonably expected to result from the implementation of other governmental measures, including spending and federal-provincial agreements.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Nathan Cullen and it was agreed to.

Clause 9, as amended, carried.

At 5:34 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.