ENVI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 45

Monday, February 26, 2007

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met in a televised videoconference session at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Vice-Chair, Geoff Regan, presiding.

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

Acting Members present: Blaine Calkins for Bob Mills, Paul Dewar for Nathan Cullen and Chris Warkentin for Mike Allen.

Associate Members present: Hon. John Godfrey.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Sam Banks, Analyst.

Witnesses: As an individual: Dyane Adam, Former Commissioner of Official Languages. Privy Council Office: Patrick Hill, Director, Strategic Policy, Machinery of Government; Roberta Santi, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government. Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for New Zealand: Morgan Williams, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of the Strengthening the role of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 5:04 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:05 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of David J. McGuinty, — That this committee call upon the government to bring forward legislation to strengthen the role of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development by:

• making the Commissioner a full and independent Agent of Parliament (“Office of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development”) reporting to Parliament directly through the Speakers of both the House of Commons and the Senate;

• clearly affirming and appropriately circumscribing the duty of the Office of the Commissioner to advocate on environmental and sustainable development issues;

• requiring that the appointment of a Commissioner be approved by both the House and the Senate;

• ensuring that a funding mechanism at arm’s length from the government be established for the Office of the Commissioner; and

• protecting the right of the Commissioner to name the Office’s staff, including environmental auditors, without government influence.

And that the Committee adopt these recommendations as a report to the House and that the Chair present this Report to the House.

The debate continued.

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

On motion of Mark Warawa, it was agreed, — That the Committee append to its report a supplementary opinion from the Conservative Party provided that it is no more than one page in length and submitted electronically to the Clerk of the Committee, no later than 5:00 p.m., on February 28, 2007.

At 5:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Justin Vaive
Clerk of the Committee

2007/10/15 12:08 p.m.