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House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 Ï NUMBER 023 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, November 25, 2013 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 1285 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, November 25, 2013 The House met at 11 a.m. cause serious and lasting damage to our ecosystems is now a key part of policy. Prayers My bill is a reminder that Canadians want sustainable develop- ment to be included in the decision-making process of their representatives in the House of Commons. Placing sustainable development at the heart of all federal public policy is the best way PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS to make Canada greener, more prosperous and fairer for all. Ï (1100) What is sustainable development? It means creating policies that [Translation] meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of AN ACT TO AMEND THE FEDERAL SUSTAINABLE future generations. Sustainable development must also be guided by DEVELOPMENT ACT (DUTY TO EXAMINE) long-term thinking that takes into account the inseparable nature of the environmental, social and economic impacts of development Mr. Pierre Jacob (Brome—Missisquoi, NDP) moved that Bill activities. Unfortunately, we are leaving our children with the worst C-481, An Act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act economic, social and ecological debt in the history of this country. (duty to examine), be read the second time and referred to a We cannot afford to let this situation continue. committee. He said: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present Bill C-481. Years The planet's temperature is already rising. This is an undeniable ago, I joined an increasing number of Canadians who have become reality that is hitting Canada hard. Since 1948, the average annual aware of the urgent need for action on the environment. It is now temperature in Canada has risen by 1.3oC, a rate of warming that is absolutely crucial to develop sustainable development policies to higher than in most other parts of the world. Heavy precipitation and address the many challenges of our time. flooding have increased in most Canadian cities. Researchers with I also want to pay tribute to our environment critic, the member the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy for Halifax, who works so hard to defend our world and the quality have noted an increased number of heat waves in every major of life of her constituents. She is a role model who inspires me every Canadian city as well as more droughts, particularly in the west. day. As for me, I was elected in 2011 to make Canada greener, more There have also been more forest fires. Moreover, the serious lack of prosperous and fairer for all. water is affecting land productivity, and that will only get worse. Some people would say that Bill C-481 does not go far enough. Insurance plans are not adapted to these situations. In Quebec However, I feel it is a step in the right direction. My colleagues on alone, the compensation paid by insurance companies as a result of the other side and I should support it. Indeed, it is an amendment to storms and flooding has increased by 25% since 2001. an act that the Conservatives themselves passed unanimously in June 2008. Ï (1105) My bill seeks to ensure that any future acts and regulations Lastly, scientists have documented deteriorating biodiversity introduced by a federal minister comply with the principles of the conditions in all of the main types of ecosystems in Canada. Federal Sustainable Development Act. The Minister of Justice will Biodiversity is a cornerstone of Canadian competitiveness. It is key then report any inconsistencies to the House of Commons, at the to continued growth in ecotourism and recreation. Falling behind on earliest possible opportunity. The Department of Justice already has the protection of land and wildlife could lead to the disruption of an obligation to examine all bills and regulations before the House to valuable resource sectors like forestry and fisheries. verify compliance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All that Bill C-481 does is link this process with what has already been created by the Federal Sustainable Development Our trading partners see Canada as a steward of globally Act. significant resources. Canada’s success as a trading nation depends on continued leadership in meeting international expectations for I would point out there was nothing in the throne speech on environmental protection, expectations that are increasingly en- sustainable development. However, the idea that human activity can shrined in international trade agreements. 1286 COMMONS DEBATES November 25, 2013 Private Members' Business Negligence is getting expensive. The effects are being felt across Well thought-out strategies and effective action to implement them the country, and it will only get worse if we do not act now. For are fundamental to both the credibility and the impact of the many years, a number of provinces have said repeatedly how strategies. Although the Federal Sustainable Development Act is important it is that Canada take a leadership role in establishing weak and does not have teeth, I think it provides an excellent tool for sustainable development policies. Sustainable development means us to coordinate our massive bureaucracy in order to implement creating policies that meet the needs of the present without sustainable development policies. compromising the needs of future generations. This principle must be extended to all decisions made by the federal government, Bill C-481 will help strengthen this act by ensuring that the House especially those made in the House. of Commons knows whether a bill is in line with the federal sustainable development strategy. The Commissioner of the Informing people and building awareness alone will not make Environment and Sustainable Development noted that the efforts Canada greener. We need leadership. The government and MPs must to integrate the sustainable development strategy are incomplete. Bill foster change that stimulates progress and prosperity in our C-481 would fix that. communities. My bill will give Canada a mechanism that encourages MPs to act We want to show Canadians that we take sustainable development in accordance with sustainable development principles. Bill C-481 is into account in our decisions. If Bill C-481 passes, bills that are one more step in the right direction toward placing these principles at inconsistent with sustainable development will pay a political price. I the centre of our decision-making process. By encouraging MPs to hope that members of the House of Commons will make more of an develop bills that are in line with the federal sustainable development effort to include sustainable development in their bills. strategy, Bill C-481 will help them make good decisions and build a greener, more prosperous and more just Canada. We must not be leaving environmental, economic and social debts for future generations. We must be concerned with the quality of life The Federal Sustainable Development Act was the outcome of a of our constituents; focus on prevention instead of repression; private member's bill, Bill C-474, which was passed unanimously in provide value-added for small businesses by giving them green June 2008. In passing the bill, the Government of Canada recognized infrastructure; promote buying local, which stimulates the regional the importance of making decisions that take environmental, economy and reduces our greenhouse gas emissions; and there are economic and social factors into account. The bill set up a legal many more examples. Together, we will build a fairer, greener and framework for the development and implementation of a federal more prosperous Canada. sustainable development strategy. The purpose of the strategy is to make the decision-making In conclusion, I would like to share a quote from Frédéric Back's process more transparent in terms of the environment. It is updated film The Man Who Planted Trees. This film served as an inspiration every three years with a progress report and public consultations. to me in developing this bill. Here is an excerpt: Within a year of the strategy coming into effect, the main federal departments have to prepare their own sustainable development ...It is a desert no more. In these [formerly] arid regions...magnificent forests have strategies. These must comply with the guidelines in the federal slowed the winds, retained water and restored life. All this is the result of the quiet perseverance of a single man. sustainable development strategy, which has four priority themes. The first is about addressing climate change now that weather On that note, I urge all members to vote in favour of my bill. events have become more frequent and severe. We must also improve air quality to combat the growing number of respiratory Ï (1115) illnesses. Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I love that The second is about maintaining water quality and availability, movie. I watched it when I was taking French classes in Saint-Jean- because even though our bank account is full and oil resources are sur-Richelieu. everywhere, water quality is still the most critical factor for life. I would like to thank my colleague for introducing this worthwhile The third is about protecting nature, plants and animals. The bill. We were chatting earlier and I joked that I wished I had thought fourth is about shrinking the environmental footprint, beginning with of it. government. The goal is to reduce polluting emissions, recycle, and set a good example for the private sector and individuals. In all seriousness, this bill is founded on a simple and elegant idea. Ï (1110) It ensures that development is always part of our work as legislators.

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