Canadian Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development

Canadian Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
Name	Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
Type	House of Commons committee
Jurisdiction	Parliament of Canada
Established	1994
Chamber	House of Commons

Canadian Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development is a permanent committee of the House of Commons of Canada that reviews matters referred by the Parliament of Canada, scrutinizes implementation of statutes such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and interacts with departments including the Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Parks Canada Agency. The committee has conducted studies that intersect with initiatives like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, the Species at Risk Act reviews and inquiries touching on events such as the Fort McMurray wildfire and the Gatineau River contamination episodes.

Mandate and Jurisdiction

The committee's mandate originates in the standing orders of the House of Commons of Canada and encompasses review of legislation, examination of departmental spending and oversight of policies linked to statutes including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Fisheries Act. Its jurisdiction involves scrutiny of activities at agencies like the National Research Council (Canada), coordination with ministers such as the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada) and consideration of international commitments exemplified by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The committee also examines implementation of programs administered by the Natural Resources Canada and adjudicates issues arising from decisions of the Federal Court of Canada and reviews linked to recommendations from the Auditor General of Canada.

Membership and Leadership

Membership comprises Members of Parliament drawn from parties represented in the House of Commons of Canada, including caucuses of the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois and occasionally the Green Party of Canada. Leadership has included chairs and vice-chairs selected through the procedures of the Board of Internal Economy (Canada) and committee elections, with past chairs often being MPs who served on other panels such as the Standing Committee on Finance or the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Members frequently supplement committee work by coordinating with senators from the Senate of Canada and liaising with provincial counterparts like the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Committee Procedures and Meetings

Procedures follow the Standing Orders of the House of Commons and include orders of reference from the House of Commons of Canada and reports to the Speaker of the House of Commons (Canada). Meetings are convened in committee rooms at the Parliament Hill precinct, translated under the auspices of the Library of Parliament, and conducted in both official languages in accordance with rules of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. Witness lists have included representatives from organizations such as the David Suzuki Foundation, the Pembina Institute, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, provincial ministries, and scholars from universities like the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and the Université Laval.

Reports and Recommendations

The committee issues reports tabled in the House of Commons of Canada that contain recommendations directed to ministers, departments and agencies including Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Its outputs have influenced legislative amendments, funding allocations overseen by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and responses from officials such as the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (Canada). Reports have sometimes prompted follow-up audits by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and generated responses referenced in proceedings of the Governor in Council.

Studies and Major Inquiries

Major inquiries and multi-part studies have examined topics like greenhouse gas mitigation strategies referenced in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, plastic pollution mitigation linked to the Ocean Plastics Charter, biodiversity crises relating to the Species at Risk Act, and climate resilience after episodes such as the Fort McMurray wildfire and flooding in the Ottawa River basin. The committee has called witnesses from institutions including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the National Audubon Society (U.S.) on migratory bird issues, and the World Wildlife Fund Canada for ecosystem studies.

Legislative Review and Oversight

The committee reviews bills referred by the House, including legislation affecting the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, amendments to the Fisheries Act, and regulatory frameworks tied to the Impact Assessment Act. Through clause-by-clause review, the committee proposes amendments, summons departmental officials such as deputy ministers and director generals, and oversees statutory instruments registered by the Governor in Council. Oversight has extended to monitoring implementation of budgets passed by the Parliament of Canada and assessing departmental performance reports submitted to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

Public Engagement and Stakeholder Consultation

Public engagement practices involve invitations to stakeholders including environmental NGOs like the David Suzuki Foundation, industry associations such as the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Indigenous organizations including the Assembly of First Nations, provincial governments like the Government of Alberta, and municipal bodies such as the City of Vancouver. Consultations often produce written briefs submitted to the committee, oral testimony during hearings, and collaborations with academic centres including the Pembina Institute and the Canadian Climate Institute to inform evidence-based recommendations.

Category:Parliamentary committees of Canada Category:Environment of Canada