ENVI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, James Bezan, presiding.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion moved by Mark Warawa on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(1), and after concluding hearings, the Committee recommends that the House of Commons not proceed further with Bill C-469, An Act to establish a Canadian Bill of Rights, because the Bill:

• will enable any resident of Canada to challenge any regulatory standard, at any time, thereby trumping the existing regulatory process, creating regulatory and investment unpredictability;

• will encroach on areas of provincial environmental jurisdiction;

• does not allow for the balance of the Social, Economic and Environmental pillars of Sustainable Development;

• overlaps with aspects of existing Federal legislation and policies which give rise to redundancy or conflict;

• removes numerous safeguards which ensure that environmental rights do not overwhelm government capacity and judicial resources.

The debate continued.

Linda Duncan moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Bernard Bigras, Linda Duncan, Mark Eyking, Joyce Murray, Christian Ouellet, Francis Scarpaleggia — 6; NAYS: Scott Armstrong, Steven Blaney, Blaine Calkins, Mark Warawa, Stephen Woodworth — 5.

At 5:01 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:03 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Blaine Calkins moved, — That the Committee recommends to suspend its clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-469, An Act to establish a Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights, in order to receive additional briefs and hear additional witnesses.

Debate arose thereon.

At 5:29 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.