Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Transport and Communications

Issue No. 51 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 16, 2019 (afternoon meeting)

PRINCE RUPERT, Tuesday, April 16, 2019
(135)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 1:15 p.m., in Lax Kw'alaams Room (Tsimshian Ballroom), Highliner Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, the chair, the Honourable David Tkachuk, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cormier, Dasko, Gagné, MacDonald, Miville- Dechêne, Patterson, Simons, Smith and Tkachuk (9).

In attendance: Jed Chong and Zackery Shaver, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Ben Silverman, Communications Officer, Senate Communications Directorate.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-48, An Act respecting the regulation of vessels that transport crude oil or persistent oil to or from ports or marine installations located along British Columbia's north coast. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 46.)

WITNESSES:

As individuals:

Alexander Fred Campbell, Hereditary Chief Smooygit Gitxoon;

Russell Mather, Hereditary Chief Nisawaap;

Jack White, Elder, Lax Kw'alaams;

George Bryant, Gitwilgyoys Tribe.

Lax Kw'alaams Band:

John Helin, Mayor.

United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union-Unifor:

Joy Thorkelson, President.

Canadian Natural Resources Limited:

Bill Clapperton, Vice President, Regulatory, Stakeholder and Environmental Affairs.

Coastal Shellfish Corporation:

Michael Uehara, Chief Executive Officer.

Cassiar Cannery:

Justine Crawford, Owner.

Prince Rupert Port Authority:

Ken Veldman, Vice President, Public Affairs and Sustainability.

City of Prince Rupert:

Lee Brain, Mayor.

Government of British Columbia:

The Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

As individuals:

Nathan Cullen, Member of Parliament for Skeena-Bulkley Valley;

Jennifer Rice, Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for North Coast.

Friends of Wild Salmon:

Modestus Nobels, Chair.

T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation:

Luanne Roth, North Coast Estuary Campaigner.

Haida Gwaii CoASt:

Valine Brown, Co-Founder.

Coastal Emergency Response Working Group:

Chris Sankey, Co-Chair.

The chair made a statement.

Mr. Helin, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Mather, Mr. White and Mr. Bryant made statements and answered questions.

At 2:13 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:17 p.m., the committee resumed.

Ms. Thorkelson, Mr. Clapperton, Mr. Uehara, Ms. Crawford and Mr. Veldman made statements and answered questions.

At 3:22 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:31 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Heyman, Ms. Rice, Mr. Brain and Mr. Cullen made statements and answered questions.

At 4:37 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:46 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Nobels, Ms. Roth, Ms. Brown and Mr. Sankey made statements and answered questions.

At 5:49 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Joëlle Nadeau
Clerk of the Committee