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

Issue No. 24 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 6, 2017

OTTAWA, Thursday, April 6, 2017
(46)

[Translation]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day at 8:00 a.m., in room 257, East Block, the chair, the Honourable Richard Neufeld, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dean, Galvez, Griffin, MacDonald, Massicotte, Mockler, Neufeld, Patterson, Seidman and Wetson (10).

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

In attendance: Sam Banks and Jesse Good, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, December 6, 2016, the committee continued its study of Bill S-229, an Act respecting underground infrastructure safety. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 21.)

The chair made a statement.

At: 8:03 a.m., it was agreed to proceed to clause-by-clause study of Bill S-229, an Act respecting underground infrastructure safety.

With leave of the committee and pursuant to rule 12-20(3), it was agreed to group certain clauses according to sections described in the bill's table of provisions.

It was agreed that the title stand postponed.

It was agreed that clause 1, containing the short title, stand postponed.

The chair asked whether clause 2 shall carry.

The Honourable Senator Patterson moved that Bill S-229 be amended in clause 2, page 2, by adding after line 36 the following:

"province includes Yukon, The Northwest Territories and Nunavut. (province)''.

After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was agreed that clause 2 as amended carry

It was agreed that clause 3 carry.

It was agreed that clauses 4 to 6 from the Application section carry.

It was agreed that clauses 7 and 8 from the Registration with a Notification Centre section carry.

It was agreed that clauses 9 to 11 from the Location and Identification of Underground Infrastructure section carry.

The chair asked if clause 12 shall carry.

The Honourable Senator Seidman moved that Bill S-229 be amended in clause 12, on page 6,

(a)by replacing line 9 with the following:

"time specified in subsection (2), do any of the following:'';

(b)by replacing line 15 with the following:

"(b) provide to that person, in writing, an accu-''; and

(c)by replacing line 18 with the following:

"ground disturbance;''.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

It was agreed that clause 12 as amended carry.

It was agreed that clauses 13 to 15 in the Location and Identification of Underground Infrastructure section carry.

It was agreed that clause 16 carry.

It was agreed that clause 17 carry.

It was agreed that clauses 18 to 27 in the Offences and Punishment section carry.

It was agreed that clause 28 carry.

It was agreed that clause 29 carry.

It was agreed that clauses 30 and 31 in the Consequential Amendments section carry.

It was agreed that clause 32 carry.

It was agreed that clause 33 carry.

It was agreed that the schedule carry.

It was agreed that clause 1, containing the short title, carry.

It was agreed that the title carry.

It was agreed that the bill as amended carry.

It was agreed that the chair report Bill S-229, as amended, to the Senate.

At 8:11 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:13 a.m., the committee resumed.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, March 10, 2016, the committee continued its study on the effects of transitioning to a low carbon economy. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)

WITNESSES:

Environment and Climate Change Canada:

John Moffet, Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch;

Derek Hermanutz, Director General, Economic Analysis Directorate, Strategic Policy Branch;

Matt Jones, Director General, Climate Policy Office, Strategic Policy Branch.

Helen Ryan, Director General, Energy and Transport, Environmental Protection Branch.

Department of Finance Canada:

Sean Keenan, Director, Sales Tax Division, Tax Policy Branch;

Gervais Coulombe, Chief, Sales Tax Division, Tax Policy Branch.

Mr. Moffet made a statement, and with Mr. Hermanutz, Mr. Jones, Mr. Keenan and Ms. Ryan, answered questions.

At 10:04 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxime Fortin

Clerk of the Committee