ENVI Committee Meeting
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Minutes of Proceedings
Conservative
Bloc Québécois
Lloyd Longfield moved, — That the committee defer consideration of Bill C-204 to consider newly received submissions in relation to the bill; that the remaining submissions be translated and distributed to members; that the steering committee consider whether some of these individuals should be asked to appear as witnesses; and that the steering committee report back to the committee on its recommendations.
The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Lloyd Longfield, Raj Saini, Ya’ara Saks — 5;
NAYS: Dan Albas, Laurel Collins, Matt Jeneroux, Cathy McLeod, Monique Pauzé, Arnold Viersen — 6.
Laurel Collins moved, — 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:
1. 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;
2. clearly affirming and appropriately circumscribing the duty of the Office of the Commissioner to advocate on environmental and sustainable development issues;
3. requiring that the appointment of a commissioner be approved by both the House and the Senate;
4. ensuring that a funding mechanism at arm’s length from the government be established for the Office of the Commissioner; and
5. 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.
Lloyd Longfield moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all of the words after “That this committee” with the following: ", further to the motion adopted on February 1, 2021 related to a hearing on the role of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, produce a report with respect to strengthening the role and mandate of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and that the committee take into consideration all testimony to the committee with respect to that role and mandate in the 43rd Parliament as well as the report of the committee tabled in the 39th Parliament first session on March 1, 2007".
A point of order was raised as to the procedural acceptability of the proposed amendment.
RULING BY THE CHAIR
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible as it introduced several new propositions which should be the subject of a substantive motion.
Debate resumed on the motion.
Lloyd Longfield moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “call upon the government to bring forward legislation to strengthen” with the words: “produce a report for the government to consider strengthening".
The question was put on the amendment of Lloyd Longfield and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Lloyd Longfield, Raj Saini, Ya’ara Saks — 5;
NAYS: Dan Albas, Laurel Collins, Matt Jeneroux, Cathy McLeod, Monique Pauzé, Arnold Viersen — 6.
The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Laurel Collins, Monique Pauzé — 2;
NAYS: Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Lloyd Longfield, Raj Saini, Ya’ara Saks — 5.
The committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.
The Chair called Clause 1.
On Clause 1,
Laurel Collins moved, — That Bill C-204, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing line 11 on page 1 with the following:“plastic waste characterized as hazardous or requiring special consideration under the Basel Convention, which was adopted on March 22, 1989, and entered into force on May 5, 1992, for final disposal to States that are not members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Commission or Liechtenstein.
(1.21) Subsection (1.2) does not apply to plastic waste consisting exclusively of one non-halogenated polymer or resin, selected fluorinated polymers, or mixtures of polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate, provided the plastic waste is destined for recycling in an environmentally sound manner and is almost free from contaminants and other types of wastes.
(1.22) All exports of plastic waste not prohibited under subsection (1.2), including plastic waste excluded under subsection (1.21), are subject to the conditions for the import, export or transit of waste material referred to in subsection 185(1).”
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Laurel Collins and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Laurel Collins, Monique Pauzé — 2;
NAYS: Dan Albas, Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Matt Jeneroux, Lloyd Longfield, Cathy McLeod, Brad Redekopp, Raj Saini, Ya’ara Saks — 9.
“(1.4) The prohibition provided for in subsection (1.2) shall be applied in a manner that respects the legislative competences of the federal and provincial governments.”
Debate arose thereon.
At 5:48 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 5:52 p.m., the sitting resumed.
The question was put on the amendment of Monique Pauzé and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Dan Albas, Laurel Collins, Matt Jeneroux, Lloyd Longfield, Cathy McLeod, Monique Pauzé, Brad Redekopp, Ya’ara Saks — 8;
NAYS: Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Raj Saini — 3.
After debate, Clause 1, as amended, carried on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Dan Albas, Laurel Collins, Matt Jeneroux, Cathy McLeod, Monique Pauzé, Brad Redekopp — 6;
NAYS: Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Lloyd Longfield, Raj Saini, Ya’ara Saks — 5.
After debate, Clause 2 carried on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Dan Albas, Laurel Collins, Matt Jeneroux, Cathy McLeod, Monique Pauzé, Brad Redekopp — 6;
NAYS: Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Lloyd Longfield, Raj Saini, Ya’ara Saks — 5.
After debate, Clause 3 carried on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Dan Albas, Laurel Collins, Matt Jeneroux, Cathy McLeod, Monique Pauzé, Brad Redekopp — 6;
NAYS: Yvan Baker, Chris Bittle, Lloyd Longfield, Raj Saini, Ya’ara Saks — 5.
On new Clause 4,
Ya'ara Saks moved, — That Bill C-204 be amended by adding after line 10 on page 2 the following new clause:“Coming into Force
4 The provisions of this Act come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.”
Debate arose thereon.
Dan Albas moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.” with the words “six months after the day on which this Act receives royal assent.”
Debate arose thereon.
At 7:04 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.