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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 121

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 31, 2022 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 121 - Oct/31/22
Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)
  • Oct/31/22 12:43:33 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill S-5 
Madam Speaker, I am certainly very concerned that this bill not be rushed through. I agree with him insofar as that comment. This is a very complex bill. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act is a very long act in six parts. The government has chosen not to review or update part 6 at all, which deals with marine dumping and genetically modified organisms. That section needs attention but will be outside the scope of the act for parliamentarians to review, unless the government steps up and says we need to modernize this section as well. I am also concerned about protecting this bill from court challenges. We need to put back in the list of toxic substances, schedule 1.
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Context: House Hansard - 121 - Oct/31/22
Mr. Robert Kitchen (Souris—Moose Mountain, CPC)
  • Oct/31/22 1:12:49 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill S-5 
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Red Deer—Mountain View's words of wisdom. The great orator Paul Harvey said, “Self-government won't work without self-discipline.” The plastics industry has been a regulator for many years and has done tremendous work on regulating its industry. The member talked about the issues of toxic substances, etc. I wonder if he would agree that part of what is missing in this legislation is the fact that, while we put toxic products on schedule 1, part 1 or part 2, we do not have any mechanism in the legislation that would take them off it, the steps to take them off the schedule if it were found out scientifically that the products were not toxic. I wonder if the member would have any comments on that.
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Context: House Hansard - 121 - Oct/31/22
Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP)
  • Oct/31/22 1:26:39 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill S-5 
Madam Speaker, I think we have a problem. There is a flaw in the Environment Canada framework because the purpose of the bill is unclear. In the beginning, 30 years ago, it was important to maintain the list of toxic substances set out in the act. The Supreme Court of Canada rendered a famous ruling in that regard in R. v. Hydro-Québec. It is clear from that Supreme Court ruling that we need to continue with the criminal jurisdiction approach. In order to do that, we need to protect the list of toxic substances and not divide it in two because that would make this legislation more vulnerable when the courts have to enforce it. Can my colleague comment on my theory that this poses a serious risk?
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Context: House Hansard - 121 - Oct/31/22
Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ)
  • Oct/31/22 5:14:19 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill S-5 
Madam Speaker, one of the things Bill S‑5 sets out to amend and improve is the list of toxic substances. I think that is important. I would like to hear what my colleague has to say about that, especially since the goal, at the end of the day, is to ensure a healthier environment in which people, and especially businesses, stop polluting the air, as is the case in Rouyn‑Noranda and in my riding. That will reduce the number of lawsuits against these companies, as well as against the government if it turns a blind eye.
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Context: House Hansard - 121 - Oct/31/22
Mr. Garnett Genuis
  • Oct/31/22 5:45:33 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill S-5 
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. In principle, I agree with the idea of a right to a healthy environment. I also mentioned the problem with the designation of plastics as toxic in general. That is not something that is changed by the bill. It is a pre-existing problem regarding the intentions of the current government. As the member suggested, that is both a positive and a negative.
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Context: House Hansard - 121 - Oct/31/22
Ms. Elizabeth May
  • Oct/31/22 5:57:04 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill S-5 
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, and I am profoundly sorry to interrupt the hon. member for Calgary Nose Hill, because it is an important speech, but it has absolutely nothing to do with Bill S-5. Bill S-5 deals with toxic chemicals, and with six different parts, none touch on carbon pricing; none are about Russia, Ukraine or climate. Bill S-5 is a different bill altogether. This is an important speech, but there is no relevance to Bill S-5.
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