Environment committee  The Conservatives still don't have a plan for affordability. They don't have a plan for the environment. They don't believe in climate change. They consistently prioritize the corporate interests of their greedy oil and gas masters over the needs of everyday Canadians. For that reason, Mr. Chair—and I hope I haven't taken too long—I move that we adjourn debate on this motion for now, so that we can continue with our witnesses, out of respect for them.

Environment committee  While the rural member from Milton likes to accuse anyone who disagrees with him of being a climate change denier, I don't think he would say that about the Liberal premier from Newfoundland and Labrador, and I hope he wouldn't accuse the over 130 first nations in Ontario that are taking the government to court over the carbon tax of that.

Environment committee  In the mountains of both Canada and the United States, we are indeed seeing not necessarily a major decrease in precipitation over the whole year but a change in precipitation patterns. Before the advent of climate change two or three decades ago, when it started to become very noticeable, a high proportion of winter precipitation fell as snow. This meant that a reservoir of snow accumulated throughout the winter, and gradually melted from spring and summer onwards.

Environment committee  However, this is a dynamic issue in that, as I mentioned, the United States is also facing the effects of climate change and the relative scarcity of the resource. That said, the opportunity to look to another source—essentially Canada—always arises in the public debate, especially in the western United States.

Environment committee  As I mentioned, not only do we look at impacts or effects to fresh water or to the environment, but we look at an all hazards analysis. I know this committee is interested also in climate change analysis and all the rest of it, so maybe we can get into that as well. Coming to your question about the pollution going into the Ottawa River from the near surface disposal facility, any project and all projects need to demonstrate that any risk to exposure is mitigated.

Environment committee  I would just close by adding that the Prairies naturally experience drought on a cyclical basis and, indeed, that is exacerbated by the effects of climate change. The Prairie Provinces Water Board presents a forum to help collaborate across the jurisdictions to address those challenges more effectively. I'll close by saying that the master agreement, regardless of the cyclical variability that happens in the Prairies, has always been complied with, so we have been able to maintain equitable sharing thus far.

Environment committee  The board's current challenges involve dealing with climate change-related extreme weather events, as I was discussing. There is also the issue of invasive mussels. This is why I brought both of these issues forward to you. These issues are the local governments' greatest concerns.

Environment committee  On Monday, April 8, 2024, Environment and Climate Change Canada provided the committee with an 18-page document titled “Environment Canada's Provincial CGE (ECPRO) Model”, in response to a document production order; and c) On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the committee ordered “the production of the model and data from Environment and Climate Change Canada that demonstrate that carbon pollution pricing will contribute as much as one-third of Canada's emission reductions including all (i) parameters, (ii) assumptions, and (iii) variables, (iv) economic modelling, (v) and emissions reduction modelling”; Pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a) the Committee requests Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault and officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada to testify on the Liberal government's carbon pricing emissions model(s) analyses, and economic modelling for no less than two hours by Friday, May 24, 2024.

Environment committee  Well, this is what democracy, the House of Commons and this committee are all about. We all recognize that climate change is real and that we have to address it. There are good ways to address it and there are bad ways to address it, and this is what people will decide in the next election, which way they want to address it.

Environment committee  I think even Boris Johnson, in Canada today, said he wished the Conservatives in Canada would take climate change seriously. I think we could get some real study on this. I would say that we could study this for a minimum of three meetings as an amendment to the motion.

Environment committee  Again, to go back to the original information that was provided by ECCC—a document that was not written by ECCC and is not supposed to speak on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada or the minister about the modelling and the economic and emissions assumptions that have been used—I assume that members of all parties are willing to have the minister here.

Environment committee  John Pomeroy for being here today at the table with me. Dr. Pomeroy is the Canada research chair in water resources and climate change. He is the inspiration behind this bill. He helped to draft this bill, and he patiently taught me about flood and drought forecasting. Today, though, I will be concentrating on flood forecasting for simplicity, but I know that Dr.

Environment committee  It says: 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. Here we are: The committee order the production of “Environment and Climate Change Canada's provincial-territorial computable general equilibrium model...

Environment committee  Would you please expand on what's happening internationally in this area, apart from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which you told us about? Why is Canada lagging so far behind, since it seems to me that's what you said in your opening remarks. How can we compensate for that?

Environment committee  Yes, I will. Caterina is a retired actuary. She has been concerned about climate change for about 30 years. As an actuary, she joined actuarial committees studying climate change and sustainability. She chaired the committee that created the Actuaries Climate Index in about 2013.