Skip to main content

ENVI Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 85
Tuesday, November 21, 2023, 11:02 a.m. to 12:59 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Francis Scarpaleggia, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Alison Clegg, Analyst
• Sarah Yakobowski, Analyst
As an individual
• Deborah Curran, Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre, University of Victoria
• Alexandre Lillo, Law Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
• Robert Sopuck, Former Member of Parliament
• Andrew Stegemann, Former National Director, Our Living Waters
B.C. Wildlife Federation
• Jesse Zeman, Executive Director
Regional Environmental Council of Estrie
• David O'Connor, Project Manager, Invasive Species
The EcoAmbassador
• Luxmy Begum, Founder
Wildsight
• Wyatt Petryshen, Science Policy Advisor
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the committee resumed its study of freshwater.

Alexandre Lillo, Jesse Zeman, Luxmy Begum and Wyatt Petryshen made statements and answered questions.

Motion

Dan Mazier moved, — That, pursuant to the Order of Reference of Thursday, November 9th, 2023, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, appear before the committee for no fewer than two hours to consider the Supplementary Estimates (B) before Friday, December 1st, 2023.

Debate arose thereon.

Motion

Adam van Koeverden 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: Shafqat Ali, Taylor Bachrach, Sophie Chatel, Lloyd Longfield, Monique Pauzé, Leah Taylor Roy, Adam van Koeverden — 7;

NAYS: Gérard Deltell, Michael Kram, Branden Leslie, Dan Mazier — 4.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Taylor Bachrach gave notice of the following motion:

That, given the importance of freshwater ecosystem services to the prosperity, sustainability, and resilience of British Columbian communities, and given the increasingly severe impacts of climate change including drought, wildfires, and floods, the committee urge the federal government to match the Government of British Columbia to establish a $1 billion watershed security fund.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 12:02 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:07 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $106,450, for the study of freshwater, be adopted.

Robert Sopuck, Andrew Stegemann, Deborah Curran and David O’Connor made statements and answered questions.

Motion

Branden Leslie moved, — Given that:

  1. Canadian Farmers have some of the most environmentally friendly agricultural operations in the world;
  2. The Premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have issued public letters calling on the Senate to urgently pass Bill C-234, a carbon tax carve out for farmers;
  3. Bill C-234 will provide relief for farmers struggling with the burden of the Government’s Carbon Tax; and
  4. Bill C-234 will help lower food prices for all Canadians across the country.

The committee calls on the Senate of Canada to pass Bill C-234, a carbon tax carve out for farmers, as soon as possible, and reports this to the House of Commons.

Debate arose thereon.

Motion

Adam van Koeverden 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: Shafqat Ali, Taylor Bachrach, Sophie Chatel, Lloyd Longfield, Monique Pauzé, Leah Taylor Roy, Adam van Koeverden — 7;

NAYS: Gérard Deltell, Michael Kram, Branden Leslie, Dan Mazier — 4.

At 12:59 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Natalie Jeanneault
Clerk of the committee