THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 19, 2022
(13)
[English]
Pursuant to the order of the Senate of May 5, 2022, the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met in camera this day, in room W110, 1 Wellington St., and with videoconference, at 9:08 a.m., the chair, the Honourable Paul J. Massicotte, presiding.
Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Carignan, P.C., Galvez, Gignac, Gold, P.C., Massicotte, McCallum, Plett, Sorensen and Verner, P.C. (9).
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Kutcher, Miville-Dechêne, Patterson and Seidman (5).
Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senator Arnot (1).
Participating in the meeting: Mark Palmer, Procedural Clerk, Martine Willox, Legislative Clerk and Louise Martel, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Jesse Good and Wu DiYing, analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 7, 2022, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act.
Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee discussed in camera a draft agenda (future business).
At 9:32 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 9:33 a.m., the committee resumed in public.
WITNESSES (by videoconference):
Environment and Climate Change Canada:
John Moffet, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch;
Laura Farquharson, Director General, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Environmental Protection Branch;
Jacqueline Gonçalves, Director General, Science and Risk Assessment, Science and Technology Branch;
Health Canada:
Greg Carreau, Director General, Safe Environments Directorate.
John Moffet, Laura Farquharson, Jacqueline Gonçalves and Greg Carreau answered questions from time to time.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
The chair asked whether clause 2 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator McCallum moved that Bill S-5 be amended in clause 2, on page 2:
(a) by replacing line 3 with the following
“of Indigenous Peoples, including free, prior and informed consent;”;
(b) by replacing line 17 with the following:
“of science and Indigenous knowledge in the process of making decisions related to”;
(c) by replacing line 20 with the following:
“and timely incorporation of scientifically justified and Indigenous knowledge-based alter-”.
After debate, it was agreed that the motion in amendment stand postponed.
The Honourable Senator Patterson moved that Bill S-5 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by adding the following after line 13:
“Whereas the government of Canada is committed to the development of an internationally integrated approach for the assessment and management of chemicals;”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived.
The Honourable Senator Galvez moved that Bill S-5 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing lines 22 and 23 with the following:
“ment of substances to reduce or replace the use of animals;”.
After debate, the Honourable Senator Kutcher moved that the motion in amendment be amended by replacing the words “reduce or replace the use of animals” with the words “replace, reduce or refine the use of vertebrate animals”.
After debate, the question being put on the subamendment, it was adopted.
At 10:58 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Chantal Cardinal
Clerk of the Committee