Senator Wells: First of all, thank you for not taking the full time that was allotted for your speech, unlike what our colleagues did so as to not allow questions.

You mentioned this being a behavioural tax and that it’s a behavioural modification tax. Do you see this additional levy on farmers as being fair where there’s no alternative? You mentioned that there is no other reasonable alternative on Prince Edward Island for drying their grain or heating the facilities where cattle are kept.

Senator Wells: Understood, Your Honour. As I wait for the motion to be returned to me, I will explain to Senator Dupuis and, of course, to all our colleagues that there was agreement that the bill be referred to the Agriculture Committee as the lead committee and to the Energy Committee as the secondary committee. In the note that was given to me it said the Finance Committee, but I know there was agreement that it would not go there.

If you’d like me to read that section again, I’d be happy to do so, Your Honour. I’ll read the three sections.

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, if Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, is adopted at second reading:

1.it stand referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry;

2.the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on the subject matter of the bill; and

3.the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to take into account, during its consideration of the bill, any public documents and public evidence received by the committee authorized to study the subject matter of the bill, as well as any report from that committee to the Senate on the subject matter of the bill.

Colleagues, as I said, the Finance Committee was removed from the original draft, and the agreement that we have with all parties is that it be referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, with, obviously, assistance — more than assistance — from the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.

Senator Wells: Thank you, Your Honour. I’m not on debate. I’m not questioning your hearing of the call for “no,” but I didn’t hear it. So I wanted you to ask the question again. Thank you.

Hon. David M. Wells: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(j), I move that notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, if Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, is adopted at second reading, number one, it stand referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry; number two, both the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources and the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report on the subject matter of the bill — sorry, I misread that section.

That both the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on the subject matter of the bill; and that, number three, the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to take into account, during its consideration of the bill, any public documents and public evidence received by either of the committees authorized to study the subject matter of the bill, as well as any report from either of those committees to the Senate on the subject matter of the bill.

Hon. David M. Wells: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(j), I move:

That, notwithstanding any provision of the Rules, previous order or usual practice, if Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, is adopted at second reading:

1.it stand referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry;

2.the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine and report on the subject matter of the bill; and

3.the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry be authorized to take into account, during its consideration of the bill, any public documents and public evidence received by the committee authorized to study the subject matter of the bill, as well as any report from that committee to the Senate on the subject matter of the bill.

Hon. David M. Wells: Would Senator Downe take another question?

Hon. David M. Wells: Honourable senators, I note this item is at day 15. I’m not ready to speak at this time. Therefore, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 4-15(3), I move the adjournment of the debate for the balance of my time.