THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 12, 2024
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met with videoconference this day at 6:49 p.m. [ET] to study Bill C-50, An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy; and, in camera, for observations to their report.
Senator Ratna Omidvar (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: My name is Ratna Omidvar. I am a senator from Ontario and the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
Please take note of the following preventive measures in place to protect the health and safety of all participants, including the interpreters.
If possible, ensure that you are seated in a manner that increases the distance between microphones. Only use an approved black earpiece. The former grey earpieces may no longer be used.
Please keep your earpieces away from all microphones at all times. When you are not using your earpiece, please place it face down on the sticker placed on the table for this purpose.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Before we begin, let us do a quick round table of introductions, starting with the deputy chair, Senator Cordy.
Senator Cordy: Jane Cordy, senator from Nova Scotia. Welcome.
Senator Moodie: Rosemary Moodie, Ontario.
Senator Yussuff: Hassan Yussuff, Ontario.
[Translation]
Senator Cormier: I am René Cormier from Quebec.
Senator Gold: I am Marc Gold from Quebec.
[English]
Senator Burey: Sharon Burey, Ontario.
Senator Osler: Gigi Osler, Manitoba.
Senator Bernard: Wanda Thomas Bernard, Nova Scotia.
[Translation]
Senator Petitclerc: I am Chantal Petitclerc from Quebec.
Senator Brazeau: I am Patrick Brazeau from Quebec.
Senator Seidman: I am Judith G. Seidman from Quebec.
Senator Mégie: I am Marie-Françoise Mégie from Quebec.
[English]
Senator Dasko: Donna Dasko, Ontario.
The Chair: Thank you, colleagues. Today, we are proceeding to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-50, An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy.
I’d like to welcome officials who are with us to assist us with any questions committee members may have. They are Eva Lazar, Executive Director, Special Projects, Skills and Employment Branch, Employment and Social Development Canada; Cori Anderson, Director, Sustainable Jobs, Natural Resources Canada; and Barbara Winters, Legal Counsel, Department of Justice Canada.
Before we begin, I’d like to make the senators aware of a few reminders.
If at any point a senator is not clear where we are in the process, please ask for clarification. We want to always ensure that everyone is on the same page with the same understanding of where we are.
When more than one amendment is proposed to be moved in a clause, amendments should be proposed in the order of the lines of a clause. If a senator is opposed to an entire clause, I would remind you that in committee, the proper process is not to move a motion to delete the entire clause but, rather, to vote against the clause.
I remind senators that some amendments moved may have a consequential effect on other parts of the bill. It would be useful if a senator moving an amendment identified to the committee other clauses in this bill where this amendment could have a knock-on effect. Otherwise, it becomes extremely difficult for members of the committee to remain consistent in their decision making.
Next, if committee members ever have any questions about the process or the propriety of anything occurring, they can certainly raise a point of order. As chair, it is my job to listen to the argument, decide when there has been sufficient discussion of a matter or order and make a ruling.
The committee is, colleagues, the ultimate master of its business within the bounds established by the Senate, and a ruling can be appealed to the full committee by asking whether the ruling shall be sustained.
If ever there is any uncertainty as to the results of a voice vote or a show of hands, the most effective route is to request a roll call vote. Senators are aware that any tied vote negates the motion in question.
Finally, please note that the report on the subject matter of this bill from the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, which was tabled today and circulated to committee members — you all have a copy of it — will inform our discussion today. We will not be allocating a specific period of the meeting for review of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources report, but I welcome comments relating to the report throughout our discussion today as you see fit.
Are there any questions on any of the above? Seeing none, we can proceed.
Is it agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-50, An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the preamble stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Is it agreed that we bundle or group the clauses together for consideration?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Okay. Shall clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall clause 2 to clause 8 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall clause 9 to clause 15 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall clause 16 to clause 21 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall clause 1, which contains the short title, carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the preamble carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Shall the bill carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Carried.
Does the committee wish to append observations to the report?
Some Hon. Senators: Yes.
The Chair: Thank you. Colleagues, we will now move in camera for the discussion of observations. I ask officials and any members of the public present to please leave the room. Thank you.
(The committee continued in camera.)