ENVI Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 10

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met by videoconference at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Bob Mills, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Bernard Bigras, Hon. John Godfrey, Marcel Lussier, David J. McGuinty, Bob Mills, Hon. Geoff Regan, Francis Scarpaleggia, Maurice Vellacott, Mark Warawa and Jeff Watson.

Acting Members present: Paul Dewar for Nathan Cullen, Brian Jean for Luc Harvey and Daniel Petit for Luc Harvey.

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

Witnesses: Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society: Ian Rutherford, Executive Director. As individuals: David Sauchyn, Research Professor, Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative, University of Regina; John M R Stone, Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University; Andrew Weaver, Professor and Canada Research Chair, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Tuesday, October 16, 2007, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-377, An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

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

Francis Scarpaleggia moved, — That the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development invite representatives from Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada (including Randy Mikula from NRCan), representatives of the Alberta government, Dr. David Schindler, Andrew Nikiforuk, Michael Wenig (of the Canadian Institute of Resource Law), Kevin P. Timoney (of Treeline Environmental Research), representatives of the Nunee Health Authority of Fort Chipewyan, representatives of the Keepers of the Athabasca, and a representative of the Pembina Institute, to discuss the impact of oil-sands development on present and future water supplies, including on water flows and pollution in the Athabasca River and Lake Athabasca and on migratory birds in the Peace-Athabasca Delta.

Debate arose thereon.

Mark Warawa moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Peace-Athabasca Delta” the following: “and that, the Committee organize and include in its study a trip to Northern Alberta to tour the oil sands before the end of the current session”.

The question was put on the amendment of Mark Warawa and it was negatived on division.

Mark Warawa moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Peace-Athabasca Delta” the following: “and that additional witnesses submitted by the members be considered by the Steering Committee for final approval by the Standing Committee”.

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

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 Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development invite representatives from Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada (including Randy Mikula from NRCan), representatives of the Alberta government, Dr. David Schindler, Andrew Nikiforuk, Michael Wenig (of the Canadian Institute of Resource Law), Kevin P. Timoney (of Treeline Environmental Research), representatives of the Nunee Health Authority of Fort Chipewyan, representatives of the Keepers of the Athabasca, and a representative of the Pembina Institute, to discuss the impact of oil-sands development on present and future water supplies, including on water flows and pollution in the Athabasca River and Lake Athabasca and on migratory birds in the Peace-Athabasca Delta and that additional witnesses submitted by the members be considered by the Steering Committee for final approval by the Standing Committee.

At 5:31 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Normand Radford
Clerk of the Committee

2008/02/01 11:53 a.m.