Bill C-315

1st Session, 39th Parliament,

55 Elizabeth II, 2006

house of commons of canada

BILL C-315

An Act to provide for the harmonization of environmental standards throughout Canada

WHEREAS Canada and its provinces have similar objectives for the protection of the environment;

WHEREAS environmental standards have been set at similar but not identical levels throughout the nation;

WHEREAS municipalities and industry will benefit from the standardization of equipment and procedures;

AND WHEREAS environmental quality can best be maintained throughout Canada if standards, monitoring procedures and enforcement methods are consistent throughout the nation;

NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. This Act may be cited as the National Environmental Standards Act.

2. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Committee” means the Canadian Environmental Standards Committee established under section 4.

“environmental standard” means a stipulated standard or allowed limit established by or under an Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province that is used as the basis for environmental management.

“Minister” means the Minister of the Environment.

3. (1) The Minister shall, within 180 days after the coming into force of this Act, convene a conference of the provincial ministers of the Crown responsible for the environment.

(2) The objective of the conference is to implement a process of consultation among the provinces in order to achieve uniformity in the environmental standards applied throughout Canada.

4. (1) The Minister shall establish a committee, to be known as the Canadian Environmental Standards Committee, the members of which shall be appointed by the Minister in accordance with subsection (3).

(2) The mandate of the Committee is to undertake a comprehensive review of the specific environmental needs of each province, to advise and make recommendations to the Minister on matters related to achieving uniform environmental standards throughout Canada, and to propose relevant draft legislation that could be passed by Parliament and the legislature of every province.

(3) The Minister shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the Committee’s membership

(a) reflects a broad range of scientific and technical disciplines related to the protection of the environment; and

(b) reflects expertise in matters related to municipalities, and industry, law, and other social sciences, as needed.

5. (1) The Committee shall submit to the Minister a report for each of the three consecutive twelve-month periods starting with the period commencing on the day on which this Act comes into force.

(2) The report submitted under subsection (1) shall set out the Committee’s findings, conclusions and recommendations respecting the achievement of uniformity or a greater degree of uniformity in the environmental standards applied throughout Canada, the status of relevant draft legislation and any other matter that the Committee deems appropriate.

(3) Every report under subsection (1) shall be submitted within six months after the end of each period, and the Minister shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first ten days on which the House sits after the Minister receives it.

(4) When a report is laid before a House of Parliament under subsection (3), it shall stand referred to the standing committee of that House that normally considers matters relating to the environment.