Standing Committees

“urge the federal government to:

• increase research to develop greater energy efficiency
• increase production and use of clean, renewable energy in the form of the natural flow of sunlight, wind, water, biomass or geothermal
• promote public awareness and education on the availability and benefits of renewable energy”

 “urge the federal government to enact legislation that would:

• protect the consumer from monopolization of these renewable energy resources by large energy companies,

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• The topic is relevant; however, the support material is outdated.

“urge that the federal government exert pressure on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund

• to cease placing conditions on loans with regard to water resources and systems, and
• to advocate community-based public solutions to ensure all people have access to clean, affordable water”

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• The topic is relevant; however, it requires new supporting material
• A new resolution on this topic should consider the IMF Conditionality
• There will always be conditions on the loans specifically that the country makes a plan to get out of debt.

“forward this resolution to the North American Regional Vice-President and Resolution Committee for consideration and presentation to the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations General Assembly to be held in Washington, D.C. in June 2006.”

• The issue was sent to the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations.

“urge the federal government to protect Canada’s water from contamination”

 “urge the federal government to enact legislation that will ensure national water quality standards for Canada’s present and future water supply” “encourage members to become knowledgeable about water quality in their own community.”

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• The topic is relevant; however, the action(s) may only be taken by members.

“urge the foreign affairs and environment ministers to vigorously pursue their three-point strategy announced February 10, 1999, to prohibit the bulk removal of Canadian water, including water for export from Canadian watersheds”

 “urge their provincial/territorial environment ministers to prohibit the bulk removal of provincial/territorial water”

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• The topic is relevant as Canadians do not want the agreement to share bulk water with the United States.
• It is a provincial issue under the Constitution Act, (1867), jurisdiction over water is divided between parliament and the provincial legislatures, with some overlap.
• The provinces generally have authority over natural resources within their boundaries (provincial focus).

“urge the federal ministers of health and agriculture and agri-food to ensure that all genetically engineered products produced in Canada and imported into Canada:

• be stringently and independently tested for long-term health and environmental effects before being offered for sale, with continued monitoring following commercialization
• be so labeled.”

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• The topic is relevant; however, the information is outdated and current scientific research and background material is needed.

“commends the federal government for the efforts they have taken towards correcting the damage done to the environment, including the introduction of Bill C-78, an Act to Establish a Federal Environmental Assessment Process”

“expresses to the federal government the following concerns of our members regarding damage to the environment: the reluctance of pulp and paper mills to convert to alternate bleaching technologies, which will eliminate dioxins and furans from the effluent of the mills and from their paper products; the accumulation of solid waste in existing landfill sites; the continued use of substances that damage the ozone layer; the pollution of our oceans, rivers and lakes; the depletion of our forests”

 “asks the federal government to continue to develop guidelines and to take the necessary action, including penalties, to protect the environment from further damage”

 “asks each provincial council to approach their provincial and territorial governments to express these and local environmental concerns and to seek action to correct and prevent environmental damage within their jurisdiction”

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• The topic is relevant; however, the information is outdated, and current scientific research and background material is needed. 
• A new resolution on this topic would need to be more specific.