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
Meeting No. 25
Thursday, February 24, 2000
The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met in camera at 9:24 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Charles L. Caccia, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Charles L. Caccia, Marlene Catterall, Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Gurmant Grewal, Dennis Gruending, Joe Jordan, Julian Reed, Paddy Torsney.
Acting Member present: Clifford Lincoln for Nick Discepola.
In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Monique Hébert, and Linda Webster, Research Officers.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108 (2), the Committee resumed its study on the management and use of pesticides in Canada including an evaluation of the performance of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency in preventing pollution and in protecting the environment and human health (See Minutes of Proceedings, Tuesday, October 26,1999 (Meeting no. 1)).
The Committee discussed its future business.
It was agreed - That the Committee send a letter to the Minister of Finance emphasising that, by signing the Kyoto Protocol, Canada made a commitment to reducing its domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 6% from 1990 levels by the year 2012; indicating that, from 1990 to 1997, Canadian greenhouse gas emissions increased by 13%; pointing out that, unless there is a radical change in government policy, this increase in greenhouse gas emissions could be as high as 41% by the year 2020; and strongly urging that the upcoming budget provide substantial, multi-year funding for greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives, so that Canada can respect its international commitments.
It was agreed - That the Committee, following the appearance by the Minister of Health and in light of the testimony heard during the hearings on pesticides, urge the Minister of Finance to emphasise the urgent need to increase funding for the following purposes: to study the effects of pesticides on the environment and human health; to regulate and evaluate these potentially toxic substances and to re-evaluate the approximately 6,000 pesticides now authorised for use in Canada and that this motion be tabled so that the Committee may consider its content in the context of the report on pesticides management.
The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.
At 11:02 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Stephen Knowles
Clerk of the Committee