Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Energy, the
Environment and Natural Resources
Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 20, 1997
(19)
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met at 8:05 a.m. this day, the Chairman, the Honourable Ronald D. Ghitter, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: The Honourable Senators Buchanan, Cochrane, Cools, Ghitter, Hays, Kenny, Kinsella, Landry, Milne, Rompkey, Spivak and Taylor.(12)
Other Senators present: The Honourable Senators Mercier, Nolin and Watt.(3)
In attendance: Daniel Brassard from the Library of Parliament.
APPEARING:
The Honourable Sergio Marchi, P.C., M.P., Minister of Environment
WITNESSES:
From Environment Canada:
Ian Glen, Deputy Minister;
Frank Vena, Chief, Transportation System Division Air Pollution Prevention Directorate.
The committee, in compliance with its Order of Reference dated Tuesday, December 17, 1996, proceeded to consider Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances.
The Honourable Minister Marchi made an opening statement and, together with the other witness, answered questions.
At 10:05 a.m.., the committee sits in camera.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Kenny, -- THAT the committee proceed to consider the draft Interim Report concerning Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances.
The question being put on the motions, it was -- Resolved in the affirmative on the following division: YEAS: the Honourable Senators Cools, Ghitter, Hays, Kenny, Landry, Milne, Rompkey, Spivak and Taylor (9); NAYS: the Honourable Senators Buchanan, Cochrane and Kinsella (3); ABSTENTION: none.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Taylor, -- THAT the draft Interim Report on Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and the importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese based substances, be adopted with the conclusion on page 21 amended as follows:
"There is evidence supplied by 21 car manufacturers who are unanimous in their opinion that MMT has a negative effect on OBD-II systems. There is evidence supplied by one corporation, the manufacturer of MMT, which believes that MMT does not have a negative effect on OBD-II systems. Based on the preponderance of evidence the government was justified in invoking the precautionary principle and introducing Bill C-29 as the prudent, responsible course of action."
and THAT the Progressive Conservative members of the committee be allowed to write a Minority View which will be attached as an Appendix to the Report and THAT, this minority view be filed with the Clerk of the Committee in order to be translated and THAT the Chairman tables the Interim Report as the Sixth Report of the Committee on Tuesday, March 4, 1997.
It was agreed, -- THAT the ommittee should consider clause by clause of Bill C-29, An Act to regulate interprovincial trade in and importation for commercial purposes of certain manganese-based substances, on March 4, 1997 and that the Clerk issues a notice of meeting to that effect.
At 2:00 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Line Gravel
Clerk of the Committee