Gérard Deltell moved, — Given that:

1. The Chiefs of Ontario, which represents 133 First Nations, have filed a judicial review in Federal Court on the Liberal government’s carbon tax;
2. The Chiefs of Ontario stated that the Liberal government “refused to negotiate with First Nations in Ontario to alleviate the discriminatory and anti-reconciliatory application of the Greenhouse Gas and Pollution Act on First Nations.”;
3. The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations has publicly expressed her willingness to support the Chiefs of Ontario’s judicial review application against the Liberal government’s carbon tax;
4. the Chiefs of Ontario have noted that Indigenous communities would face greater challenges in switching to lower emitting technologies;
5. Grand Chief Abram Benedict of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne stated that “The government has boasted that Canadians will pay a carbon tax, but through the rebates, through the subsidies they will actually receive more than what they have paid. That doesn’t ring true in First Nations communities”;
6. Grand Chief Benedict stated that “This judicial review was completely avoidable if Canada only showed up to the table,” and stated that “I sincerely hope that Canada gets the message that reconciliation and collaboration are non-negotiable, and policy made about us without us is never acceptable. Show up and work with us so we can come up with solutions that make sense.”; and
7. Canada’s Environment Commissioner and Parliamentary Budget Officer acknowledge that the carbon tax disproportionately punishes Canadians who live in rural, remote, and northern regions.

The committee report to the House its disappointment in the Liberal government’s failure to engage with First Nations on providing financial relief from the carbon tax; and pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a) the committee invite Grand Chief Abram Benedict and the Chiefs of Ontario to testify for no less than two hours by Friday, February 2, 2024, on their judicial review filing on the federal carbon tax.

Debate arose thereon.

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: Sophie Chatel, Lena Metlege Diab, Randall Garrison, Lloyd Longfield, Leah Taylor Roy, Adam van Koeverden — 6;

NAYS: Gérard Deltell, Michael Kram, Branden Leslie, Dan Mazier, Monique Pauzé — 5.

Adam van Koeverden moved, — Given that:

1. The federal government is making monumental investments in technologies that will reduce emissions in the oil and gas sector;
2. Canadians deserve to have certainty that these investments will result in significant emission reductions;
3. Capping and reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector is necessary to meet our 2030 emission reduction goals and avert the worst impacts of climate change; and
4. Reducing emissions in the oil and gas sector has the potential to create high quality, sustainable jobs.

The committee expresses its collective support for the government’s proposal to a) amend the Federal Methane Regulations for the Oil and Gas Sector to require a reduction of methane emissions in the upstream oil and gas sector by at least 75 per cent below 2012 levels by 2030; and b) introduce a regulatory framework document on the proposed approach and stringency of a cap on greenhouse gas pollution from the oil and gas sector.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “technologies that” the following: “, with the expected scientific advances,”.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Sophie Chatel, Lena Metlege Diab, Randall Garrison, Lloyd Longfield, Monique Pauzé, Leah Taylor Roy, Adam van Koeverden — 7;

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

Given that:

1. The federal government is making monumental investments in technologies that, with the expected scientific advances, will reduce emissions in the oil and gas sector;
2. Canadians deserve to have certainty that these investments will result in significant emission reductions;
3. Capping and reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector is necessary to meet our 2030 emission reduction goals and avert the worst impacts of climate change; and
4. Reducing emissions in the oil and gas sector has the potential to create high quality, sustainable jobs.

The committee expresses its collective support for the government’s proposal to a) amend the Federal Methane Regulations for the Oil and Gas Sector to require a reduction of methane emissions in the upstream oil and gas sector by at least 75 per cent below 2012 levels by 2030; and b) introduce a regulatory framework document on the proposed approach and stringency of a cap on greenhouse gas pollution from the oil and gas sector.

Dan Mazier moved, — That given,

1. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change travelled to Dubai to represent Canada at COP28;
2. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change did not reveal the complete details of the individuals and entities he was scheduled to meet with in Dubai, including the items of discussion;
3. Canadians deserve to know the priorities and outcomes of their national COP28 delegation in Dubai;
4. The Liberal government has proven that they are unable to keep their environmental promises and have neglected to consult with many Canadians on their environmental policies;
5. The Prime Minister stated, ‘That is why we committed to set a higher bar for openness and transparency in Ottawa.’ in his open letter to Canadians following his election as Prime Minister; and
6. The committee welcomes any effort to increase government transparency for Canadians.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Committee order the production of the following documents related to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s trip to COP28 in Dubai:

1. A detailed itinerary for each day the Minister was in Dubai;
2. A list of all meetings the Minister attended while in Dubai broken down by (i) the meetings initiated and (ii) the meetings accepted by Canada’s COP28 delegation;
3. A comprehensive analysis of each meeting the Minister was present at including the (i) name and titles of the individuals in attendance, (ii) meeting notes, (iii) purpose of meeting, and (iv) outcome of meetings;
4. All briefing notes provided to the Minister by all federal departments, including the reason for each briefing; and
5. A detailed list of all expenses incurred by the Minister during his trip to Dubai.

And that these documents be provided no later than one week after the motion is adopted.

Debate arose thereon.

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: Sophie Chatel, Lena Metlege Diab, Randall Garrison, Lloyd Longfield, Monique Pauzé, Leah Taylor Roy, Adam van Koeverden — 7;

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

At 12:40 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:46 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Mathieu Madison made a statement and, with Ralph Pentland, Zita Botelho and Robert Sopuck, answered questions.