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

Issue 24 - Minutes of Proceedings - May 29, 2012

OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 29, 2012
(42)

[Français]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 5:03 p.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable W. David Angus, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Angus, Baker, P.C., Brown, Johnson, Lang, Massicotte, Mitchell, Peterson, Seidman, Seth, Sibbeston and Wallace (12).

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

In attendance: Sam Banks, Analyst, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament and Ceri Au, Communications Officer, Communications Directorate.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 3, 2012, the committee continued its examination of the subject-matter of those elements contained in Part 3 of Bill C-38, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 29, 2012 and other measures. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 22.)

APPEARING:

The Honourable Joe Oliver, P.C., M.P., Minister of Natural Resources;

The Honourable Peter Kent, P.C., M.P., Minister of the Environment;

The Honourable Keith Ashfield, P.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

WITNESSES:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency:

Helen Cutts, Vice-President, Policy Development Sector;

Steve Mongrain, Senior Policy Advisor, Policy Development Sector.

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission:

Gord White, Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs;

Patsy Thompson, Director General, Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment;

Peter Elder, Director-General, Directorate of Nuclear Cycle and Facilities Regulation.

National Energy Board of Canada:

Robert Steedman, Chief Environment Officer.

The chair made an opening statement.

It was agreed that coverage by electronic media of the committee's public proceedings with the least possible disruption of its hearings be permitted.

Minister Oliver, Minister Kent and Minister Ashfield each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 6:19 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:25 p.m., the committee resumed.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Cutts, Mr. Steedman and Mr. White each made a statement and, together with Mr. Mongrain, Ms. Thompson and Mr. Elder, answered questions.

At 7:50 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Lynn Gordon

Clerk of the Committee