Mark Warawa, Conservative MP for Langley, was elected as chair of the House of Commons standing committee on environment and sustainable developments last Wednesday (June 22).
“I am very pleased with the being elected chair of the environment committee,” said Warawa. “The committee is responsible for providing the reports that will guide the decisions of Parliament.”
The committee consists of 12 MPs from different parties.
Warawa will lead the committee in developing a plan for its fall agenda and is looking forward to a productive session starting in September. It could include the continuance of the legislative review of the Species At Risk Act and a review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
Committee chairs have procedural, administrative and representative responsibilities. Chairs preside over committee meetings and oversee committee work, and have considerable administrative responsibilities such as deciding on agendas and procedures, and for managing the committee’s budget. The chair must also represent the Government of Canada on international panels and meetings, and acts as the committee’s main spokesperson to other parliamentarians, the media and society.
Warawa formerly served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment.