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

Issue 2 - Minutes of Proceedings

OTTAWA, Tuesday, November 27, 2007
(5)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 5:47 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Brown, Cochrane, Kenny, Milne, Mitchell, Nolin and Sibbeston (9).

In attendance: Lynne Myers and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the committee continued its study of the subject matter of Bill S-208, An Act to require the Minister of the Environment to establish, in co- operation with the provinces, an agency with the power to identify and protect Canada's watersheds that will constitute sources of drinking water in the future. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

Department of Justice Canada:

Henry Schultz, Senior General Counsel, Legal Services (Environment Canada);

Warren J. Newman, General Counsel, Constitutional and Administrative Law Section;

Elin O'Shea, Counsel, Constitutional and Administrative Law Section.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Schultz made a presentation and, with Ms. O'Shea and Mr. Newman, answered questions.

At 7:09 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Thursday, November 29, 2007
(6)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 8:33 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Brown, Campbell, Cochrane, Milne, Nolin, Sibbeston, Spivak and Trenholme Counsell (10).

In attendance: Lynne Myers, Frédéric Beauregard-Tellier and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, November 15, 2007, the committee continued its examination of emerging issues related to its mandate. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

Office of the Auditor General of Canada:

Ronald Thompson, FCA, Interim Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development;

Andrew Ferguson, Principal;

Richard Arseneault, Principal.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Thompson made a presentation and, with Messrs. Ferguson and Arseneault, answered questions.

At 10:24 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

OTTAWA, Tuesday, December 4, 2007
(7)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day, at 5:26 p.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the Chair, the Honourable Tommy Banks, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Adams, Banks, Brown, Cochrane, Kenny, Milne, Mitchell, Nolin, Sibbeston, Spivak and Trenholme Counsell (11).

In attendance: Lynne Myers and Sam Banks, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the committee continued its study of the subject matter of Bill S-208, An Act to require the Minister of the Environment to establish, in co- operation with the provinces, an agency with the power to identify and protect Canada's watersheds that will constitute sources of drinking water in the future. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)

WITNESSES:

Environment Canada:

Michael Martin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch;

John H. Carey, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Technology Branch.

Natural Resources Canada:

Mark Corey, Assistant Deputy Minister, Earth Sciences Sector;

David Boerner, Director General, Central and Northern Canada Branch, Geological Survey of Canada.

The chair made an opening statement.

Mr. Martin and Mr. Corey made presentations and, with Messrs. Carey and Boerner, answered questions.

At 7:31 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

François Michaud

Clerk of the Committee