ENVI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met at 9:03 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, James Bezan, presiding.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

Francis Scarpaleggia moved, — That the schedule of the Committee be amended as follows:

The meetings of June 9, 11 and 16 shall be reserved for the completion of hearings with respect to the Committee's study on water and the oil sands and that the following witnesses shall be invited to appear:

Jim Bruce (Independent Groundwater Expert) and Alfonso Rivera (Head of Department of Natural Resources Groundwater Mapping Program), together;

Adèle Hurley (Director, Program on Water Issues at the Munk Centre for International Studies) and Andrew Nikiforuk (author), together;

George Dixon (University of Waterloo) and David Rudolph (University of Waterloo), together;

G.B. Ayles and D. Rosenberg (authors of scientific peer review of the oil sands Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program), together;

Joseph Cumming and Robert Froelich (authors of paper entitled NAFTA Chapter XI and Canada's Environmental Sovereignty: Investment Flows, Article 1110 and Alberta's Water Act);

Sam Shaw (North Alberta Institute of Technology); and

John O'Connor (medical doctor) and the Alberta Cancer Board.

That on June 18 and 23 and for at least its first five meetings of the fall session the Committee shall study Bill C-311, The Climate Change Accountability Act, beginning with a discussion of the Copenhagen process and related climate change issues.

That, if the Committee cannot schedule witnesses on June 16 for its water and oil sands study, it shall begin its study of Bill C-311, The Climate Change Accountability Act, on that date.

Linda Duncan moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing with the following:

That the schedule of the Committee be amended as follows:

The meetings of June 9, 11 and 16 shall be reserved for hearings on Bill C-311, The Climate Change Accountability Act.

That on June 18 and 23, the Committee resume its study on oil sands and water and that the following witnesses be invited to appear.

Jim Bruce (Independent Groundwater Expert) and Alfonso Rivera (Head of Department of Natural Resources Groundwater Mapping Program), together;

Adèle Hurley (Director, Program on Water Issues at the Munk Centre for International Studies) and Andrew Nikiforuk (author), together;

George Dixon (University of Waterloo) and David Rudolph (University of Waterloo), together;

G.B. Ayles and D. Rosenberg (authors of scientific peer review of the oil sands Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program), together;

Joseph Cumming and Robert Froelich (authors of paper entitled NAFTA Chapter XI and Canada's Environmental Sovereignty: Investment Flows, Article 1110 and Alberta's Water Act);

Sam Shaw (North Alberta Institute of Technology); and

John O'Connor (medical doctor) and the Alberta Cancer Board.

The question was put on the amendment of Linda Duncan and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Josée Beaudin, Bernard Bigras, Linda Duncan — 3; NAYS: Peter Braid, Blaine Calkins, David J. McGuinty, Francis Scarpaleggia, Justin Trudeau, Mark Warawa, Jeff Watson, Stephen Woodworth — 8.

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

At 10:58 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.