ENVI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 268, La Promenade Building, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Kirsty Duncan, it was agreed, — That Mark Warawa be elected Chair of the Committee.

By unanimous consent, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of James Lunney, it was agreed, — That Megan Anissa Leslie be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Stephen Woodworth, it was agreed, — That Kirsty Duncan be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Mark Warawa took the Chair.

On motion of Stephen Woodworth, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work; and

That these services may be requested at the discretion of the Chair.

Michelle Rempel moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members, including the Chair, the two (2) Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary, and a member of the Conservative Party;

That quorum of the Subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members;

That each member of the Subcommittee shall be permitted to have one (1) assistant attend any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure; and

That, in addition, each party shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member from a House Officer attend any meetings.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Megan Anissa Leslie, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “including one (1) member of the opposition” after the words “at least three (3) members”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members, including the Chair, the two (2) Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary, and a member of the Conservative Party;

That quorum of the Subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members, including one (1) member of the opposition;

That each member of the Subcommittee shall be permitted to have one (1) assistant attend any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure; and

That, in addition, each party shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member from a House Officer attend any meetings.

Michelle Rempel moved, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one member from each recognized party; and

That in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the Parliamentary precinct, the Committee members in attendance shall only be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Kirsty Duncan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “each recognized party” with the words “the opposition”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one member from the opposition; and

That in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the Parliamentary precinct, the Committee members in attendance shall only be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

On motion of Michelle Rempel, it was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee any documents, including motions, and that all documents which are to be distributed amongst the Committee members must be in both official languages; and

That the Clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before the Committee of this requirement.

On motion of Michelle Rempel, it was agreed, — That each Committee member in attendance shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member attend any in camera meetings; and

That, in addition, each party shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member from a House Officer attend in camera meetings.

Michelle Rempel moved, — That in camera meetings be transcribed and that the transcription be kept with the Clerk of the Committee for later consultation by members of Parliament.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Stephen Woodworth, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “Parliament” with the words “the Committee”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That in camera meetings be transcribed and that the transcription be kept with the Clerk of the Committee for later consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of Michelle Rempel, it was agreed, — That the Committee hereby authorize the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation with the Chair, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals, as may be required, and that the cost of these meals be charged to the Committee budget.

On motion of Michelle Rempel, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Michelle Rempel, it was agreed, — That a forty-eight (48) hours notice, interpreted as two (2) nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that (1) the notice shall be filed with the Clerk of the Committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; that (2) the motion be distributed to members in both official languages by the Clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and that (3) notices received after the deadline hour be deemed to have been received during the next business day.

On motion of Michelle Rempel, it was agreed, — That the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; and

That during the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first round of questioning and thereafter five (5) minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning.

Michelle Rempel moved, — That the order of questions for the first round of questioning shall be as follows: Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party;

That questioning during the second round shall alternate between the Government members and Opposition members in the following fashion: Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party; based on the principle that each Committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witness(es); and

That if time permits, further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the Chair.

Debate arose thereon.

Megan Anissa Leslie moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party;

That questioning during the second round shall alternate between the Government members and Opposition members in the following fashion: Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party; based on the principle that each Committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witness(es)” with the words “New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Conservative Party;

That questionning during the second round be as follows: New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Megan Anissa Leslie and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

Michelle Rempel moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “alternate between the Government members and Opposition members in the following fashion: Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party; based on the principle that each Committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witness(es)” with the words “be as follows: New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party”.

The question was put on the amendment of Michelle Rempel and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the order of questions for the first round of questioning shall be as follows: Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party;

That questioning during the second round be as follows: New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party; and

That if time permits, further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the Chair.

At 12:04 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.