REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE | Wednesday, February 11, 2004 |
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
has the honour to table its
FIRST REPORT
Your Committee,
which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its
examination and consideration of such legislation and other matters as were
referred to it, reports, pursuant to Rule 104, that the expenses incurred by the
Committee during the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament are as
follows:
1. With respect to its examination and consideration of legislation:
Professional Services | $ 6,906 |
Transportation | $ - |
Other, Miscellaneous | $ 198 |
|
|
Total | $ 7,104 |
Witness expenses | $ 46,995 |
2.
With respect to its study on issues relating to energy, the environment
and natural resources:
Professional Services | $ 8,614 |
Transportation | $ 100,162 |
Other, Miscellaneous | $ 1,892 |
|
|
Total | $ 110,668 |
Witness expenses | $ 8,512 |
Your
Committee notes that witness expenses are not paid out of the budgets of
individual committees.
During the Second Session
of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament, your Committee reviewed seven (7) bills (C-42,
C‑9, C-2, C-4, C-14, C-5 and S-10), conducted a special study, met 39
times, totaling 64.8 hours, tabled or presented a total of 10 reports, and heard
121 witnesses.
In its First Report, which was
tabled in the Senate on October 24, 2002, your Committee reported on its
expenses and activities in the First Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament,
pursuant to Rule 104.
On December 4, 2002, your
Committee presented its Second Report on Bill C-14, An Act providing for
controls on the export, import or transit across Canada of rough diamonds and
for a certification scheme for their export in order to meet Canada’s
obligations under the Kimberley Process (Export and Import of Rough Diamonds
Act), which had been referred to it on November 26, 2002.
The bill was reported without amendment.
Your Committee’s Third Report,
which was presented on December 4, 2002, was pursuant to an order of reference
from the Senate dated October 22, 2002, on Bill C-5, An Act respecting the
protection of wildlife species at risk in Canada.
The bill was reported without amendment.
The report contained observations
acknowledging the importance of the legislative initiative to protect species at
risk in this country and that future legislation should address outstanding
concerns and further strengthen the existing legislation.
Your Committee’s Fourth
Report, presented in the Senate on December 5, 2002, requested financing for its
study on emerging issues related to its mandate. The Senate adopted the report
on December 5, 2002.
In its Fifth Report, which was
presented on February 6, 2003, your Committee considered Bill C-4, An Act to
amend the Nuclear Safety and Control Act pursuant to its order of reference of
December 12, 2002. The bill was
reported without amendment.
The Sixth Report of the
Committee was presented to the Senate on April 3, 2003, in accordance to the
Procedural Guidelines for the Financial Operation of Senate Committees. (Administrative
Report).
As its Seventh Report, your
Committee presented its report on Bill C-2, An Act to establish a process for
assessing the environmental and socio-economic effects of certain activities in
Yukon, which had been referred to it on April 3, 2003.
The Committee heard 14 witnesses and reported the Bill to the Senate
without amendment on May 1, 2003.
On April 3, 2003 the Committee
was authorised to examine and report on Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act. On
June 4, 2003, the Committee presented its Eighth Report to the Senate without
amendment.
On September 18, 2003, as its
Ninth Report, your Committee presented its report on Bill S-10, An Act
concerning personal watercraft in navigable waters, which had been referred to
it on February 25, 2003. The
Committee heard 19 witnesses and reported the Bill to the Senate.
The Tenth Report of the
Committee was presented to the Senate on September 18, 2003 and dealt with Bill
C-42, An Act respecting the protection of the Antarctic Environment.
The Bill was referred to the Committee on September 17, 2003.
The Bill was reported without amendment.
On November 7, 2002, your
Committee received an order of reference to examine emerging issues related to
its mandate. Under this order of
reference, the Committee chose to study specific aspects of the government’s
plans for implementing the Kyoto Protocol.
In particular, the Committee chose to focus on the One-Tonne Challenge,
the government’s call for each individual Canadian to reduce his or her
emissions of greenhouse gases by one tonne per year.
The Committee heard from 36 witnesses during 35 hours of hearings.
The witnesses included government officials, and outside experts ranging
from academics to representatives from a range of business, utility and
environmental organizations. The
Committee also met with the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable
Development and the President of the National Roundtable on the Environment and
the Economy.
During this session, Committee
members also conducted fact-finding missions to California (18 – 20 March
2003) and to Washington D.C. ( 6 – 9 October 2003).
The Committee
travelled to California for discussions focussed on, but not limited to,
promotion of alternative energy sources, experience with emissions trading, and
programs and incentives aimed at helping individuals reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions. Between March 18 and 20,
members met with more than 20 individuals representing seven different agencies
and organizations. Experience with
electricity deregulation and the consequent price and supply crisis in the State
were also discussed with officials from the State’s largest utility.
In Washington, Committee members
held discussions with more than 30 individuals representing nine departments or
organizations. The Canadian
Ambassador to the U.S., the Deputy Secretary of Energy and the President’s
Advisor on Environmental Quality were among the many highly informative people
with whom members met. Topics for
discussion ranged from energy efficiency programs and practices, and the U.S.
approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to the August electricity
blackout, clean coal technology, hydrogen research, U.S. energy policy
development and air quality regulation.
The work of the Committee
on the special study was interrupted by the prorogation of the Session before a
report could be prepared.
Respectfully submitted,
TOMMY BANKS
Chair