Environment Committee on May 1st, 2012

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I understand that you have a master of science degree in chemical engineering. Is that correct?

[Judy Fairburn]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Mr. Choquette has a point of order.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I would like to remind my honourable colleague to stay on topic; today we are looking at associating science and the economy.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

It's just groundwork.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

And positive outcomes.

Is there any further discussion?

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

I fail to see how Ms. Judy Fairburn's curriculum vitae is relevant.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

I'm going to be responding to your point of order, Monsieur Choquette.

Is there any other discussion on it?

I would agree with Monsieur Choquette and encourage Mr. Woodworth to focus on the positive environmental outcomes. You're showing the qualifications of the person, but the purpose of today's meeting is to focus on positive environmental outcomes.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I accept the ruling of the chair, and I hope everyone here agrees that what we've heard so far indicates that Ms. Fairburn is more than eminently qualified to focus on the positive outcomes through COSIA.

Ms. Fairburn, I understand that yours is a new organization, but surely you must be employing and building upon previous research that any number of companies have already conducted in the areas you're studying. Is that correct?

[Judy Fairburn]

Yes, indeed. A lot of great innovation has gone on across several companies in the oil sands and the predecessor organizations of the Oil Sands Tailings Consortium, OSLI, and CONRAD. We're really trying to take that to the next level now.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Are you also employing existing federally funded university research in the course of your work?

[Judy Fairburn]

As you recall, I mentioned that COSIA has leadership, line of sight to goals, leveraging among ourselves to really accelerate to the next level, and finally, linkages. We really believe strongly in tying into the best thinking across academia, research institutions, environmentalists, and entrepreneurs across Canada and beyond.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

The NDP environment critic, Ms. Megan Leslie, has said the following: “Canada is being punished, because while other countries are moving ahead on climate, we are doing nothing. We have no plan on how to develop the oil sands.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Mr. Woodworth, we have a point of order from Monsieur Choquette.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank my honourable colleague for quoting our excellent environment critic. Mr. Anderson has done so before and provided us with a wonderful quote. I think Ms. Leslie is doing excellent work. She mentioned the importance of associating the environment and the economy.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

That is not a point of order.

We have run out of time.

I want to thank the witnesses for coming.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

My apologies.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Yes, our apologies to the witnesses.

We had a good, healthy debate here. Hopefully we can invite you back and hear more about the good work you're doing in the oil sands.

Thank you so much.

I will accept a motion to adjourn.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

So moved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

The meeting is adjourned.