Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the
Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 1 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 21, 1997
(1)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met at 10:00 a.m. this day, for the purpose of organization pursuant to rule 88.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Buchanan, Butts, Carstairs, Ghitter, Hays, Spivak, Taylor and Watt. (8)
Other Senator present: The Honourable Senator Adams.(1)
In attendance: Lynne Myers, Researcher, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to rule 88, the Clerk presided over the election of the Chairman.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Ghitter be Chairman of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
Senator Ghitter was invited by the clerk of the committee to take the Chair.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved, -- That the Honourable Senator Taylor be Deputy Chairman of this committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Spivak moved -- That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and one other member of the committee to be designated after the usual consultation; That the subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses and schedule hearings; and That the subcommittee report its decisions to the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That the committee print 500 copies of its proceedings; and -- That the Chairman be authorized to adjust this number to meet demand.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That, pursuant to rule 89, the Chairman be authorized to hold meetings, to receive and authorize the printing of the evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that a representative of each party is present.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That, pursuant to rule 104, the Chairman be authorized to report expenses incurred by the committee during the last session.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That the committee ask the Library of Parliament to assign research officers to the committee; That the Chairman be authorized to seek authority from the Senate to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as may be necessary for the purpose of the committee's examination and consideration of such bills, subject-matters of bills and estimates as are referred to it; That Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be authorized to retain the services of such experts as may be required by the work of the committee; and That the Chairman, on behalf of the committee, direct the research staff in the preparation of studies, analyses, summaries and draft report.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That, pursuant to section 32 of the Financial Administration Act, authority to commit funds be conferred on the Chairman or in the Chairman's absence, the Deputy Chairman; and That, pursuant to section 34 of the Financial Administration Act, and Guideline 3:05 of Appendix II of the Rules of the Senate, authority for certifying accounts payable by the committee be conferred on the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, and the clerk of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That the committee empower the Chairman to designate, as required, one or more members of the committee and/or such staff as may be necessary to travel on assignment on behalf of the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That, pursuant to the Senate Guidelines for witnesses expenses, the committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for no more than two witnesses from any one organization and payment will take place upon application.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Carstairs moved -- That the Chairman be authorized to seek permission from the Senate to permit coverage by electronic media of its public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings; and That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to allow such coverage at its discretion.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
It was agreed -- That the committee's staff provide the members with a bibliography of what has been done in the recent years on climate changes.
It was agreed -- That the steering committee finalize the wording of a mandate on climate changes.
It was agreed -- That the Chairman of the National Energy Board be invited to appear before the committee to update the members on energy issues and more specifically on the "Sable Island Gas Project".
The Honourable Senator Buchanan moved -- That the steering committee be empowered to develop a budget for the present fiscal year ending on March 31, 1998 and that the Chairman presents it to the committee on Internal Economy.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
The Honourable Senator Spivak moved -- That the Chairman asks the Senate for a general mandate concerning energy, the environment and natural resources for the committee.
The question being put on the motion, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative.
At 11:20 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Wednesday, November 5, 1997
(2)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met at 7:00 p.m. this day, the Chairman, the Honourable Ronald D. Ghitter, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Butts, Cochrane, Ghitter, Spivak and Taylor.(6)
Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Comeau.(1)
In attendance: Lynne Myers from the Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The Official Reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From the Pembina Institute:
Robert Homung.
From the Sierra Club:
Louise Comeau, Climate Change Directorate.
From Pollution Probe:
Ken Ogilvie.
The committee, in compliance with its Order of Reference dated Thursday, October 23, 1997 proceeded to examine such issues as may arise from time to time relating to energy, the environment and natural resources generally in Canada.
Ms Comeau, Mr. Homung and Mr. Ogilvie each made opening statements and answered questions.
Ms Comeau tabled the document entitled Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - IPCC Technical Paper III - Stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gases: Physical, biological and socio-economic implications.
Mr. Ogilvie tabled the documents entitled 1) Climate Variability, Atmospheric Change and Human Health Conference - Proceeding - November 4-5, 1996 - Environment Canada; 2) A Strategy for Sustainable Transportation in Ontario - Report of the Transportation and Climate Change Collaborative; 3) A Policy instruments working paper on reducing CO2 emissions from the Transportation Sector in Ontario - November 1995; 4) Full cost transportation and cost-based pricing strategies - November 1995; 5) Climate Action Network - Rational Energy Program - Analysis of the impact of rational measures to the year 2010 - September 1996.
At 9:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Line Gravel
Clerk of the Committee