Environment committee  I think the important highlighted quote for me was that Canada has “no strategy in place to guide its climate change mitigation programs and activities”. You mentioned the fact that the AAFC in no way consulted with farmers regarding the fertilizer piece. As somebody who used to work in that sector, I can assure you that this is very true.

Environment committee  Thank you, Commissioner, for being here with us today. I can see that you came here with a sizable team. Combatting climate change is an important issue. I'm truly pleased to see that you're taking it as seriously as we do. I'm going to start the discussion on the net zero accelerator initiative. In your report, which appears on the Office of the Auditor General's website, you say this: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s calculations of anticipated greenhouse gas reductions for projects funded by the initiative did not always follow international standards, affecting the credibility of the department’s calculations.

Environment committee  The last thing I wanted to ask about was the federal plastics registry that's going to standardize data around plastics. Are there existing data sources already in Environment and Climate Change Canada for this registry? How is that going to be produced?

Environment committee  The committee also ordered the production of all economic modelling associated with this model. Environment and Climate Change Canada failed to provide the complete information the committee ordered. Instead of providing the committee with the carbon tax emissions model, the government provided an 18-page draft paper that attempts to describe the model.

Environment committee  Another motion passed, because that was insufficient, which led to a document that was created by...I don't even know who it was created by. They don't work for Environment and Climate Change Canada. They don't represent Environment and Climate Change Canada. They're still seeking feedback on that nine-page document. The third motion had more or less the same intent to gather the information that was requested in the first motion and the second motion, and we dumbed it down, asking to just give us what we were looking for.

Environment committee  Views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not reflect those of Environment and Climate Change Canada or the Government of Canada. How can this be a response from the government when it's not even written by the government? That's my problem.

Environment committee  I think it's just that “the website of the Department of the Environment” isn't necessarily a thing. There's the Department of the Environment and Climate Change. I think this is just common practice, to be honest. We could ask the officials if they have a preference about which website it gets published on.

Environment committee  Maybe it will satisfy the question. All Government of Canada departments, including Environment and Climate Change Canada, publish their documents on the Government of Canada website rather than on specific departmental websites. This would just follow that rubric.

Environment committee  Specifically, the department is called the Department of the Environment and Climate Change, and that's not what is listed on the original. It's neither here nor there. All Government of Canada departments—

Environment committee  Before we begin, I have a few things to mention. First, we are about to begin our study on the financial system and climate change. In the motion establishing this study, it says that the committee wishes to invite co‑operatives to testify. However, no co‑op has been suggested for the witness list, so I would ask each party to send the clerk their suggestions, prioritized as usual, to make the task of inviting witnesses a little easier.

Environment committee  I'm also the executive director with the new Canada water agency branch within Environment and Climate Change Canada. Today I'm representing the Prairie Provinces Water Board. I'm honoured to be joining you from Treaty 1 territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinabe, Ininew, Oji-Cree, Dene and Dakota peoples and homeland of the Métis nation.

Environment committee  I'm simply saying to keep that possibility in mind. It would depend a lot on the speed at which climate change is taking place, especially in the western United States. In other words, given the current structure of use in the United States, where about 80% of the water is consumed by the agricultural sector, and the speed of climate change, to what extent will governments and economic agents, mainly the agricultural sector, be able to have time to adapt and change their practices to take this new reality into account?

Environment committee  For any new project, proponents are required to conduct an environmental assessment under applicable legislation. CNSC staff work with other federal departments, such as Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to technically evaluate submissions based on the best available science and research. As part of this evaluation, applicants must provide sufficient baseline data, scenarios and programs to demonstrate that there will not be significant adverse effects from the project on the environment, including fresh water.

Environment committee  It's not a hot topic at the moment, but it should be noted that people are still concerned about it, especially since the southern United States is increasingly facing water governance issues in light of the climate change observed there as well. Thank you very much.

Environment committee  Brouwer, I'd actually like to direct my questions to you because this is our final meeting with expert witnesses on this subject, and we've had these interruptions throughout. We've heard from Professor Lasserre that climate change is exacerbating the problems of drought and flooding. It has so much to do with water management, and you have mentioned water pricing as a way to control that. Given that the member opposite has brought up the pollution pricing program we have in place, could you comment on how important you think it is to put in these pricing incentives to get Canadians to change their behaviour and reduce greenhouse gas emissions?