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Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources

Issue 11 - Minutes of Proceedings

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OTTAWA, Tuesday, June 5, 2001
(22)

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources met at 5:50 p.m. this day, in Room 257 East Block, the Chair, the Honourable Nicholas W. Taylor, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Buchanan, P.C., Christensen, Cochrane, Finnerty, Kenny, Sibbeston, Spivak and Taylor (10).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Watt (1).

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Lynne Myers, Research Officer.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on May 10, 2001, the committee proceeded to study Bill C-3. (See Issue No. 10, Tuesday, May 29, 2001 for full text of the Order of Reference.)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Ralph E. Goodale, P.C., M.P., Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board.

At 5:56 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:20 p.m., the committee resumed.

WITNESSES:

Officials from Natural Resources Canada:

Peter A. Brown, Director, Uranium and Radioactive Waste Division;

Don Cunningham, Economist, Economic and Fiscal Analysis Division, Energy Policy Branch;

Anne-Marie Fortin, Legal Counsel, Legal Services.

The witnesses made a presentation and answered questions.

It was agreed - That the steering committee look at the question of invoking rule 94 of the Rules of the Senate and make a recommendation to the committee.

It was agreed - That the committee dispense clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-3 and report this Bill without amendment.

At 6:45 p.m., the committee, pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on May 2, 2001, proceeded to study Bill C-4. (See Issue No. 9, Tuesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 17, 2001, for full text of the Order of Reference).

APPEARING:

The Honourable Ralph E. Goodale, P.C., M.P., Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board.

At 7:45 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:50 p.m., the committee resumed.

WITNESSES:

Officials from Natural Resources Canada:

Graham R. Campbell, Director General, Office of Energy Research and Development;

Anne-Marie Fortin, Legal Counsel, Legal Services.

The witnesses made a presentation and answered questions.

It was agreed - That the committee proceed in camera.

It was agreed - That the committee append the proposed observations to the report on Bill C-4.

It was agreed - That the committee resume in public.

It was agreed - That the committee move to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-4.

It was agreed - That the title stand postponed.

It was agreed - That clause 1 stand postponed.

It was agreed - That clauses 2 to 8 carry.

It was agreed - That clauses 9 to 24 carry.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane - That Bill C-4, in clause 32, be amended by replacing lines 36 to 47 on page 17 and lines 1 to 3 on page 18 with the following:

"liquidation shall be paid to the Receiver General."

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived.

It was agreed - That clause 32 carry.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane - That Bill C-4, in clause 30, be amended by replacing lines 41 and 42 on page 16 with the following:

"(c) a detailed statement of eligible projects for which funding was provided and of the extent to which these projects may lead to measurable gains in respect to air quality and sustainable development".

After debate, the question put on the amendment, it was negatived.

It was agreed - That clause 30 carry.

It was agreed - That clauses 25 to 29 carry.

It was agreed - That clause 31 carry.

It was moved by the Honourable Senator Cochrane - That Bill C-4 be amended by adding after lines 6 on page 18 the following new clause:

"33.1 For the purposes of the Access to Information Act, the Foundation is deemed to be a government institution within the meaning of section 3 of that Act."

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was negatived.

It was agreed - That clause 33 carry.

It was agreed - That clause 34 carry.

It was agreed - That clauses 35 to 40 carry.

It was agreed - That clause 1 carry.

It was agreed - That the title carry.

It was agreed - That the Bill carry.

It was agreed - That the Bill be reported with observations to the Senate, at the next sitting.

At 8:30 p.m., it was agreed - That the committee adjourn to the call of the Chair.

ATTEST:

Michel Patrice

Clerk of the Committee

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