RNNR Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Natural Resources met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Leon Benoit, presiding.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

Bradley R. Trost moved, — That the Committee report the following to the House at the earliest opportunity:

A carbon tax is a trick; it will raise the price of everything, including food, electricity, home heating and gas at the pumps; it will devastate young families, seniors and people on a fixed income; destroy jobs in this time of global economic uncertainty, have a negative impact on Canada's traditional industries like forestry and will eliminate jobs; the Committee recommends, therefore, that the federal government reject any plans for new carbon taxes.

Debate arose thereon.

Catherine Bell moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “A carbon tax is a trick; it will raise the price of everything, including food, electricity, home heating and gas at the pumps; it will devastate young families, seniors and people on a fixed income; destroy jobs in this time of global economic uncertainty, have a negative impact on Canada's traditional industries like forestry and will eliminate jobs; the Committee recommends, therefore, that the federal government reject any plans for new carbon taxes.” with the words “That this committee recognizes that we are living in a world where carbon must be constrained and priced, and further recognizes that the rising price of gas and energy impacts middle and lower income Canadians and makes life less affordable, therefore the committee recommends that the government put a price on carbon based on the polluter pay principle and invest in programs and develops innovative technologies to help Canadians reduce their carbon footprint and their energy bills”.

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible as it changes the direction and the intent of the motion.

Whereupon, Catherine Bell appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: Omar Alghabra, Mike Allen, David Anderson, Ken Boshcoff, Claude DeBellefeuille, Cheryl Gallant, Christian Ouellet, Lloyd St. Amand, Alan Tonks, Bradley R. Trost — 10; NAYS: Catherine Bell — 1.

David Anderson moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “is a trick; it” and “raise the price of everything, including food, electricity, home heating and gas at the pumps; it will devastate young families, seniors and people on a fixed income; destroy jobs in this time of global economic uncertainty,”.

The question was put on the amendment of David Anderson and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 7.

It was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

At 1:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.