Well, its a big day for attempting a better world. A couple weeks ago I contacted the members of Canada's Senate to ask them to remove non budgetary items from the Budget Implementation Act (Bill C-10), specifically some disturbing changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) that were highlighted by the Sierra Club: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5654/t/3791/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1092
I received some decent replies, but ultimately the Senate proved to be only slightly more effective than the House of Commons in making our 'democracy' work. There was some decent discussion, but a motion to split the bill into its budgetary and non budgetary parts was voted down: http://www.albertasenator.ca/hullabaloos/
I have not interacted much with Senators but based on the replies some of them are pretty worried about the path we are going down too. And since they know a lot more than me, that makes me even more concerned.
The redeemer is this:
Hello,Thank you for your email regarding Bill C-10, the Budget Implementation Act. I seconded a motion to split the non-stimulus provisions out of Bill C-10 and urged the Senate to adopt it today. Although many Senators were sympathetic, our motion failed. However, and this will be important for laying the ground work for future changes, the Senate did agree to refer non-stimulus subject matters to various committees for further study.
The Navigable Waters Protection Act goes to the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
The Investment Canada Act and the Competition Act go to the Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee.
The Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act goes to the Human Rights Committee.
All other non-stimulus items go to the National Finance Committee.
I sincerely hope that you will contact the relevant committee and make arrangements to register your concerns. As a Canadian citizen, you have the right to be heard and it is important for the future of our country that you make this effort. Here is the link to the Senate Committees page which will give you contact information for the committee clerk and the names of Senators who are members of each committee.
Thank you for all your efforts and inspiration to date. Best regards, Elaine McCoy
So my attempts at a better world are to do just that. I am going to contact every senator on the relevent committees and see if I can register my concerns. So there may be more than one entry today but here is number 1, if anyone knows how to make this more effective please tell me:
Concerns with Bill C-10 relevant to your committee
mailto:eenr-eern@sen.parl.gc.ca,adamsw@sen.parl.gc.ca, anguswd@sen.parl.gc.ca, gautht@sen.parl.gc.ca, merchp@sen.parl.gc.ca, milnel@sen.parl.gc.ca, mitchg@sen.parl.gc.ca, russem@sen.parl.gc.ca, sibnic@sen.parl.gc.ca, spivam@sen.parl.gc.ca, stgerg@sen.parl.gc.ca, lebrem@sen.parl.gc.ca, comeag@sen.parl.gc.ca, cowanj@sen.parl.gc.ca, tardic@sen.parl.gc.ca
Dear members of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources,
I have never registered a concern with a Senate Committee before so I am unsure of whether this is the right way to do so. If it is not, please advise me on how I can go about doing this.
My name is Justin Wheler and I am a young Canadian Environmental Engineer with a reasonable level of knowledge and a high level of interest in Environmental Assessments and approvals and how development impacts society and the environment. The concern I have that pertains to your committee is with Part 7 from Bill C-10. Part 7 makes substantial amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) that are unrelated to budgetary matters, and were rushed through without adequate stakeholder consultation.
I love the outdoors, especially canoeing and am concerned that this change removes an important step in assessing whether or not projects involving waterways represent a net gain to society. The EIA process is vital to ensuring that all relevant information is brought forth by all affected parties for this type of decision. I am not comfortable removing this responsibility to the discretion of the minister. Passing this type of amendment to a completely unrelated matter under the cover of economic stimulus is completely inappropriate,irresponsible, and undemocratic. This is not the way our Canada should function.
I have many friends and family who have been directly affected by the current economic situation - whether it be through loss of retirement and rainy day savings, loss of jobs, or inability to find work upon graduating from university with a high debt load and little hope. It is a tough time for our economy, and our people. I am personally on a contract position right now that ends in July and I am a little worried about my prospects for finding fulfilling and engaging work after that date. But please, please do not let this tough time be an excuse for unrelated and irresponsible changes to the other parts of Canada that we hold dear.
When we protect public access to waterways in Canada, we are also protecting the natural environment of those waterways. I understand that it is important to initiate infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy, but we should not use that as an opportunity to dismantle safeguards put in place to protect Canada’s environment. In fact, these hasty changes to the NWPA will have serious repercussions for the recreational navigation, ecotourism, fishing, and hunting sectors of our economy, none of whom were consulted about these amendments. Our navigable waterways and the activities conducted on them are a core part of our Canadian Heritage. They provide value to our country in so many ways that are not accounted for in economic balance sheets, but are core to our economy and the well being of our communities nonetheless. The public right of navigation pre-dates Confederation, and it needs to be part of our future.
Including non-budgetary items in Bill C-10 has and will continue to slow down the process of passing the budget. Please separate non-budgetary items, such as the amendments to the NWPA included in Part 7 to allow for these important, long term issues to be dealt with separately in greater depth and expedite the process of passing the budget.
Please separate the proposed amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act from C-10, the Budget Implementation Act, so we can get on with the budget. It’s the best way forward for the environment, the economy, and democracy. I have been following some of the Senate discussion on this matter and dared hope that the discussions in your chambers were more attuned to the needs and rights of Canadians.
Please seriously consider the long term impact of your deliberations on this matter. We, the youth of this country, do not want to pay for this urgent economic crisis long into the future with the loss of our rights and our environmental integrity.
I will anxiously await the results of your deliberations on this matter.
Sincerely,
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