ENVI Committee Meeting

     Order.

     I'll just go to the order of reference: that pursuant to the order of reference of Friday, October 1, 2010, Bill S-210, an act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Auditor General Act (involvement of Parliament), was referred to committee.

    The sponsor in the House is Mr. Woodworth.

    Mr. Woodworth, do you want to make an opening statement on the bill before we start considering the bill?

    Thank you very much.

    First of all, I want to express my appreciation to all those members and their party House leaders who were willing to facilitate the speedy passage of this through unanimous adoption at second reading. Particularly, I have been concerned because I know it was a leap of faith for Senator Banks, the Liberal senator who originated this bill, to entrust it to a member of an opposite party to carry forward in the House. I take that responsibility extremely seriously—as I do all of my responsibilities, but as a personal obligation to Senator Banks—so I'm happy to get this through before anyone springs any surprise elections on us, if possible.

    Senator Banks was also good enough to prepare some briefing material. I don't know where his original material went, but I had one copy left and I have simply photocopied it, although some of the photocopies may have some of my notes on them, which you can feel free to disregard.

    Essentially, this bill amends two previous statutes, in particular the Federal Sustainable Development Act and also the Auditor General Act.

    In the main, this Bill S-210, which was formerly Bill S-216, is intended to do two things: first, to replace previous references that were only to the House with references that would include both the House and the Senate; and second, to allow for the filing of the sustainable development commissioner's response to the federal sustainable development strategy not only on an annual basis but also at other times during the year, including, for example, when the Auditor General and the sustainable development commissioner render their annual reports—and as well, I think I can say, when other reports filed by the federal sustainable development commissioner or Auditor General are being delivered. This just gives him more flexibility as to when he wishes to respond to the government's federal sustainable development strategy and make the reports that are necessary for him in that regard.

    I could certainly go through it clause by clause, if you wish, but that is what it is in the main. It's not very controversial, and I hope it will be receiving the support of the members of this committee.

    Are there any questions of Mr. Woodworth?

    Mr. Warawa.

    Mr. Chair, I want to thank Mr. Woodworth for assisting this important bill.

    It was an interesting journey, as all parties came together to move forward on the Federal Sustainable Development Act. It's timely that today we have Bill S-210 before our committee and that the Minister of the Environment tabled today in the House the federal sustainable development strategy.

    So it's timely, it's good for Canada, it's good for future generations as the perspective in all planning. All parts of government have this now as their paradigm, whereby what we do and the decisions we make are based on sustainability, a balance between a healthy environment and a thriving economy—jobs and a green environment.

    Again, I want to thank Mr. Woodworth for his efforts on this committee and now for helping to bring this through this committee. I also want to congratulate the environment minister and each member of this committee for their help in the past on the strategy—and also the commissioner, Mr. Chair. He was here and he helped also in supporting this and guiding it.

    Thank you very much.

     Ms. Duncan.

    Mr. Chair, I just want to add that we'll be supporting this bill, but the bill is not necessary. It is my understanding that reports are always tabled in the Senate as well, so it's formalizing something, as I understand it, that has always been the custom of the Auditor General and the commissioner anyway. So we see no reason to object to it. It's nothing substantive. It's simply confirming the practice that has always been.

    That is my understanding.

    Mr. Woodworth.

    To a limited extent, Ms. Duncan's comments are correct, although there is also at present no obligation for the minister to deliver his report to the Senate. At present, the federal sustainable development commissioner is limited in the opportunity that he has to respond, so this bill is necessary in order to give him that extra flexibility to respond at any number of points during the year.

    The Chair: Monsieur Bigras.

    We are also going to support this bill, which is no problem at all.

    My question is more about the tabling of the sustainable development strategy. The parliamentary secretary just told us that the minister has tabled the sustainable development strategy. Could the parliamentary secretary tell us whether this strategy has also been tabled in the Senate?

    Mr. Warawa, there's a question for you.

    Could he repeat the question, please?

    I will not repeat myself. Mr. Woodworth understood that we are going to vote for this bill. But the parliamentary secretary told the members of the committee that the minister has tabled the sustainable development strategy. So I just wanted to know whether this strategy has also been tabled in the Senate in the context of today's bill.

    I want to thank Mr. Bigras for that question.

    I was in question period, and right after question period one of the first things that happened--it was the first order of business--was the tabling of the strategy. Right after that I came here. So I would be glad to let him know if it's been tabled in the Senate, but I wasn't there, so I don't know yet.

    Seeing no other questions, we shall go to the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

    (Clauses 1 to 6 inclusive agreed to)

    The Chair: Shall the title carry?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    The Chair: Shall Bill S-210 carry?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    The Chair: Shall the chair report the bill to the House?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    The Chair: It is carried. Thank you very much. We are done.

    We have 40 minutes left.

    I move to adjourn.

    I have a motion to adjourn.

    The meeting is adjourned.