ENVI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met in a televised session at 11:06 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Bob Mills, presiding.

On motion of Bernard Bigras, it was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the following be reported to the House at the first opportunity:

“That in light of the importance of the environmental data collected by the RADARSAT-2 satellite, the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development recommend to the Minister of Industry that he maintain his decision, made under the Investment Canada Act, not to allow the sale of the aerospace assets of the Canadian company MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd (MDA), including RADARSAT -2, to the American company Techsystems Inc. (ATK)”.

The Committee resumed its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

Joe Comartin moved, — That the title, the preamble and clauses 1, 2, 10 as amended, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Bill C 377, An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change, be deemed adopted; that the Bill, as amended, be deemed adopted and that the Chair report the Bill as amended to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee prepare a second report describing the circumstances relating to the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill.

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

On motion of Joe Comartin, it was agreed, — That the Committee order a reprint of Bill C-377, as amended.

On motion of John Godfrey, it was agreed, — That the draft report pertaining to the reasons for not having completed the study of Bill C-377 be reviewed and approved by the Committee and that any dissenting or supplementary opinions not exceed two pages and be submitted to the Clerk no later than 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2008.

On motion of John Godfrey, it was agreed, — That the Committee invite the witnesses previously scheduled on Bill C-474, An Act to require the development and implementation of a National Sustainable Development Strategy, the reporting of progress against a standard set of environmental indicators and the appointment of an independent Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development accountable to Parliament, and to adopt specific goals with respect to sustainable development in Canada, and to make consequential amendments to another Act, to appear before the Committee.

At 11:50 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.