Government Operations Committee on March 28th, 2024

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you, Premier.

For my last question, the Governor of the Bank of Canada clearly stated that 0.6% of the overall inflation number in Canada today is contributed by this carbon tax scam, and if we got rid of it, it would put a massive dent in inflation. That might help to lower the interest rates faster after we've seen this government double the cost of mortgages, houses and rents.

Can you please tell us how important it is to axe this tax on housing?

[Blaine Higgs]

I think it's very important if you look at all these taxes that are being put on buildings, on fuel and on commodities. It all flows into higher costs. I think we just need to rethink our program and what we could do in the world to have the greatest impact.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thank you, Premier Higgs.

Mr. Kusmierczyk, go ahead for five minutes, please.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you so much, Premier, for being with us here today and for answering our questions and shedding light on your plan and New Brunswick's plan to address climate change.

I find it interesting that yesterday and today we will have had three premiers testifying before us, three premiers who over the last four years have all dealt with record-setting forest fires.

Saskatchewan, for example, saw 494 fires and about two million hectares burned last year. Obviously, we heard from the premier yesterday. Alberta, last year, had 2.2 million hectares that burned in the greatest forest fires that province has seen: 1,121 wildfires that claimed 2.2 million hectares, which were burned. The city of Edmonton recorded 299 smoke hours last year. The residents of Edmonton had to deal with 299 smoke hours—again a record, far and away. Of course, your own province has seen record forest fires in 2020.

Premier, what is your plan? What is your climate plan?

[Blaine Higgs]

Once again, my climate plan is to have a bigger impact on world emissions. I think it sounds like many of you are going to be surprised if we reach our 1.8% target in those conditions you just outlined—or better—because they're not going to have any impact at all—

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Premier Higgs, what is your plan for New Brunswick? I understand that you have a global plan. What is your plan for New Brunswick?

[Blaine Higgs]

We continue to reduce. We have done.... We're well ahead of targets in New Brunswick for emissions reductions and we continue to push in that direction to meet the targets that are put forward. That's the plan. That is on target.

In relation to forest fires, I do want to point out something. The forest industry is a big issue for New Brunswick. We're number one in Canada for forest products on a GDP per capita: our 900 companies directly in the forestry sector, 24,000 full-time jobs.... The reason I'm saying all of that is not only to identify the economic benefit but to identify the benefit of managing forests. In many cases, the reason that forests are.... We have climate change. We have drier conditions. No one is denying any of that, but when you let old forests—

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Premier, I do apologize, but I'm not hearing a plan here. I'm just hearing words.

Mr. Chair, I am going to share my time with my colleague, Ms. Atwin. I'll just pass my questions over to her.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks.

Ms. Atwin, you have two minutes.

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Kusmierczyk.

Premier Higgs, I want to pick up on a piece you mentioned about the forestry sector, for example. I know that we have sustained use of aerial spraying of glyphosate in the province, which has actually created a monoculture in our forestry sector and which could actually lead to more susceptible conditions for forest fires. To point to that as a big piece of that plan is concerning to me.

You also mentioned indigenous communities and the potential for natural gas exploration. I would remind you that there were significant demonstrations and protests across the province during that time because it wasn't something that indigenous communities wanted in their backyards. Has that relationship changed at all? I'd like some insight on that piece.

[Blaine Higgs]

I would think that the reality is starting to set in that this is a huge economic benefit. It's done across the country, particularly in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan. The idea of the development of natural gas is not new. It's well established. The impact it can have on world emissions is well established. Yes, I would like to think the first nations are learning more about this so they understand economically and environmentally what it could mean. That is the process that is under way, but we certainly could make an impact with the federal government being part of that.

I want to go back to the forestry comment and the glyphosate. The biggest use of glyphosate is in farming and agriculture—

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

But we're talking about the forestry sector—

[Blaine Higgs]

You can't have one without the other. It might be easier to talk about forestry right now, but the whole point—

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Aerial spraying—

[Blaine Higgs]

Aerial spraying is mostly in agriculture, and in the forestry sector I want to point out the fact that—

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Does it not create a monoculture, though, that makes our forests more susceptible to forest fires—

[Blaine Higgs]

No, no....

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

—and threatens biodiversity, which should be part of any climate plan?

[Blaine Higgs]

No.

Let me answer. It was my question—was it not?

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

It's my time, actually, sir.

[Blaine Higgs]

All right. It's your time and my answer, then.

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Please, go ahead. I'd like the answer to that.

[Blaine Higgs]

The idea is that we have the lowest loss in Canada for land lost by fire. That is, we're number one in Canada for forest products. I said that, but we are also a recognized leader in forest fire protection. What's the reason for that? It's because we have not only a quick attack unit in order to mitigate the loss, but—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, Premier. I need you to wrap up, please.

[Blaine Higgs]

Okay. We have actually an active forest management system in harvesting. Old forests are not being allowed just to rot and become fire traps.