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

Issue No. 54 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 6, 2019

OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 6, 2019
(106)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day at 9:04 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Senator Rosa Galvez, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carignan, P.C., Cordy, Galvez, LaBoucane-Benson, MacDonald, Massicotte, McCallum, Mitchell, Mockler, Patterson, Poirier, Pratte, Richards, Seidman, Simons, Tkachuk, Wetston and Woo (18).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Black (Alberta), Dean, Griffin, McCoy and Miville-Dechêne (5).

In attendance: Gaëtane Lemay, Procedural Clerk; Sam Banks and Jesse Good, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-69, An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

WITNESSES:

Environment and Climate Change Canada:

Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency:

Ron Hallman, President;

Christine Loth-Bown, Vice President, Policy Development Sector;

Terence Hubbard, Vice President, Operations;

Brent Parker, Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs.

Natural Resources Canada:

Christyne Tremblay, Deputy Minister;

Timothy Gardiner, Acting Director General, Petroleum Resources Branch, Energy Sector.

Transport Canada:

Thao Pham, Associate Deputy Minister;

Nancy Harris, Executive Director, Regulatory Stewardship and Aboriginal Affairs.

Department of Justice Canada:

Jean-Sébastien Rochon, Senior Counsel, Resource Development Coordination Unit.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Lucas, Mr. Hallman, Ms. Tremblay and Ms. Pham each made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:19 a.m., the Honourable Senator Poirier replaced the Honourable Senator Patterson.

At 11:12 a.m., the Honourable Senator Patterson replaced the Honourable Senator Poirier.

At 11:16 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:23 a.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Harris, Ms. Loth-Bown, Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Rochon answered questions.

At 12:03 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1:01 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Rochon, Ms. Loth-Bown, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Parker and Ms. Harris answered questions.

At 3:59 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4 p.m., the Honourable Senator Wetston replaced the Honourable Senator Woo.

At 4:07 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to examine a draft agenda (future business).

It was agreed:

That senators' staff be permitted to remain in the room during the in-camera portion of the meeting.

It was agreed:

That the committee allow a transcript of the in-camera portion of the meeting to be made, that a copy of it be kept at the office of the clerk of the committee for reference by the members of the committee present or by the committee analysts; and

That the transcript be destroyed by the clerk once the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure authorizes her to do so, but no later than the end of the session of Parliament.

At 4:18 p.m., the Honourable Senator Pratte replaced the Honourable Senator Wetston.

At 4:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxime Fortin
Clerk of the Committee