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House Hansard - 213

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 14, 2023 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 213 - Jun/14/23
Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis, Lib.)
  • Jun/14/23 3:10:35 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill S-5 
Mr. Speaker, Bill S‑5, the bill modernizing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which had not had a major overhaul in more than 20 years, received royal assent yesterday. More than 50 hours were spent on this bill in parliamentary committee. The newly strengthened legislation includes major advances in protecting the environment and human health. Can the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change tell the House about the next steps in implementing the framework for ensuring the right to a healthy environment?
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Context: House Hansard - 213 - Jun/14/23
Mr. Richard Cannings
Madam Speaker, that question is very similar to the previous one. With regard to development or anything like that that would have an impact on the environment, Bill C-219 operates through federal legislation. Any development that went through federal legislation, having gone through those regulations, got their permits and all that, would not be affected by this at all. This only comes into effect when there are developments that contravene those regulations, those protections that we already have in place. It would not affect any development that is proceeding legally whatsoever.
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Context: House Hansard - 213 - Jun/14/23
Ms. Monique Pauzé (Repentigny, BQ)
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his bill and the care he took to ensure that it did not affect Quebec's environmental sovereignty. Can he clarify how his bill goes much further than the study we did in committee on Bill S‑5 with respect to the right to a healthy environment?
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Context: House Hansard - 213 - Jun/14/23
Mr. Richard Cannings
Madam Speaker, I am assuming that the member was referring to how this bill extends these rights further than Bill S-5 and in a stronger way. This covers all federal legislation, not just the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and it provides, as I mentioned, mechanisms for citizens, if they feel that the federal government is not responding to environmental issues, such as companies that are breaking the law with regard to the environment, citizens could demand an investigation. If that proceeds to a certain point, they could even take environmental action. If we are giving people the right to live in a healthy environment, we must uphold that right and we must hold the government accountable with transparent measures so that people know that they can enjoy this right.
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