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ENVI Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 81
Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 11:00 a.m. to 12:44 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Francis Scarpaleggia, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Marlisa Tiedemann, Analyst
• Sarah Yakobowski, Analyst
Department of Natural Resources
• Alexandre Beaulieu, Senior Director, Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, GeoBase
Department of the Environment
• Caroline Blais, Director, Forest Products and Fisheries Act
• David Harper, Director General, Monitoring and Data Services Directorate
• Arash Shahsavarani, Director, Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Division
• Cecile Siewe, Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate
• Daniel Wolfish, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Canada Water Agency
Department of Transport
• Isa Gros-Louis, Director General, Indigenous Relations and Navigation Protection
• Joanna Manger, Director General, Marine Safety and Security
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Kate Ladell, Director General, Ecosystems Management
• Hilary Oakman, Acting Regional Director, Aquatic Ecosystems, Ontario and Prairie Region
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the committee resumed its study of freshwater.

The witnesses answered questions.

Motion

Dan Mazier moved, — That the committee report to the House of Commons that:

  1. The Prime Ministers’ public opinion is plummeting because of his inflationary policies and carbon taxes that are driving up the cost of living for Canadians, and as the Prime Minister he is only concerned about his re-election;
  2. The Prime Minister has announced a measure that will not provide tax relief to 97% of Canadians;
  3. Canadians are still paying his carbon tax on gas, heat and groceries;
  4. The carbon tax will continue to go up every year;
  5. The Prime Minister has doubled-down on his plan to quadruple the carbon tax to 61 cents a litres;
  6. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc, voted to keep the carbon tax on home heating just one year ago.

    The committee recognize that the carbon tax is a tax plan, not an environmental plan, and call on the Liberal Government to immediately abolish Carbon Tax I and Carbon Tax II, and that the committee report its opinion to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Gérard Deltell, Michael Kram, Branden Leslie, Dan Mazier — 4;

NAYS: Shafqat Ali, Taylor Bachrach, Sophie Chatel, Lloyd Longfield, Monique Pauzé, Leah Taylor Roy, Adam van Koeverden — 7.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 11:57 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:07 p.m., the sitting resumed in-camera.

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

It was agreed, —

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on environment and climate impacts related to the Canadian financial system, including banking institutions and pension funds under federal jurisdiction;

That this study includes 1) current practices in this sector and 2) an analysis of regulatory and legislative mechanisms the government of Canada could implement to ensure its financial regime aligns with the Paris Agreement and thus, promote the reduction of inherent risks, namely physical and transition risks;

That the committee invite the Expert panel on sustainable finance, international organizations like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations, the minister of Finance, the minister of Environment and Climate change, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, the CEOs of Canada’s five major banking institutions (RBC, TD, CIBC, BMO, Scotia Bank), co-operatives, experts and other stakeholders;

That the committee hold a minimum of nine meetings and report its findings and recommendations to the House of Commons

.

It was agreed, — That the proposed supplementary budget in the amount of $1,000, for the briefing by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, be adopted.

At 12:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:40 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That Laurie Pushor, President and CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator be summoned to appear before the committee at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, in relation to the study of toxic leak of tailings ponds.

At 12:44 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Natalie Jeanneault
Clerk of the committee