THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, June 18, 2026
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day at 8:03 a.m. [ET], in camera, to examine and report on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry; and, in public, for an election of the committee chair; and, in camera, to examine and report on Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore petroleum industry.
Senator Joan Kingston (Chair) in the chair.
(The committee continued in camera.)
(The committee resumed in public.)
The Chair: Good morning, everyone. It’s my plan this morning to step down as chair. It has been a pleasure to be the chair of this committee, and I will remain on this committee. We need to elect a new chair. I believe someone is here to make a motion regarding that.
Senator Dean: Chair and members, I move that Mary Coyle become Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.
The Chair: We have a motion on the floor. All in favour?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Chair: Contrary minded?
I declare the motion carried. I will step down from the chair and welcome our new chair to this office.
Senator Mary Coyle (Chair) in the chair.
The Chair: Good morning, everyone. I just wanted to say a few words before we go back in camera and get on with the business of the day, which I promise we’ll be doing in very short order.
I want to, first, thank all of you for your confidence and for supporting me as your new chair. I think I’ve been able to speak with almost every one of you. As I said to those whom I have met with — and will say to those whom I have not yet had a chance to have a conversation with — I’d like to meet with each of you between now and when we come back in the fall so that I get a good sense of your interests and goals and your experience with this committee and seek your advice before we move into the fall session. I look forward to that.
I also want to thank very much, on behalf of all members of this committee, our former chair, Senator Joan Kingston, for her leadership through some very important work that we’ve undertaken together. A very sincere thanks to you, Senator Kingston.
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear!
The Chair: Without further ado, we will suspend briefly to move in camera.
(The committee continued in camera.)