Evidence of meeting #23 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was yukon.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Is there anyone else on the importance of the Northern Gateway pipeline?
Mr. Turchanski, go ahead, please.
10:40 a.m.
President, Energy Services BC
It's definitely an economic benefit that's going to be realized, as Bill was saying, not only for the provinces but for the whole of Canada as well. Of course, with the oil pipelines out there today, everything has been painted with a black brush. The safety that goes into these pipelines, with the line break valves and the whole scenario in regard to putting these things in the ground, is way ahead of what it was 30 or 40 years ago. If we don't start looking at this now and putting this infrastructure in place, I think we're going to lose out in the future going forward.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Okay.
Thank you, Mr. Regan.
We go now to Mr. Leef.
We have about five minutes left in the committee. If Ms. Block has a question then, Mr. Leef, maybe you can keep your comments a little short, and we'll go to Ms. Block after that.
Go ahead.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Turner, we had some discussion today about the Alaska Highway and some of the perils of it. What didn't get articulated was that the development of the Alaska Highway during the war was for a supply route and an actual pipeline route. We also have the North Canol Road and the South Canol Road that were originally developed for pipelines. There's an interesting history in the territory that I don't think is expressed all that well.
We've talked about some of the challenges in terms of the development: human resources, financial capacity, infrastructure capacity. In your opinion, is the Yukon up for the challenge? It's a nice problem to have, but do you think the Yukon is up to facing this challenge?
10:40 a.m.
President, Yukon Chamber of Commerce
Yes, I absolutely do. I think our population is anxious and eager to look for new opportunities for employment, and we have a lot of expertise here and a lot of untapped resources that I think our population is excited to draw upon.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT
Thank you.
Thank you all for your testimony.
I'll turn my time over to Ms. Block.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you all for joining us today.
We are coming to the end of this study, and it's been very informative. Of course, we've heard from witnesses from sea to sea—especially communities, municipalities, community leaders—talking of their desire to maximize the benefit of developing the natural resources in their areas, but maximizing that benefit while also being environmentally responsible. We not only hear that from our first nations communities, but also from municipalities across the country that have been able to provide us with some testimony.
We've also heard from you, Mr. Streeper, the need to diversify our markets so that we can realize the full potential value of our resources in the interests of all Canadians. I think that's really why in 2012 our government introduced the responsible resource development plan, which saw us looking at four main areas to ensure that there was timeliness and predictability when contemplating a new project in the development of our resources. It also looked at reducing duplication. We've also identified the need to strengthen environmental protections, and engage with aboriginal communities.
Could you briefly comment on the responsible resource development plan, if you are aware of it? Have you seen any benefits of that plan's coming into place in terms of resource development in your areas?
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
10:40 a.m.
Mayor, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality
As far as the plans are concerned, in a lot of cases when you're talking environment the energy industry is a leader in environment. The energy industry has created many technological advancements that have aided the environment in all other aspects, besides the oil and gas industry. I personally have seen a lot of changes in my life in the oil patch, and right now I would go forward on the record saying that the oil companies have become one of the highest environmental industries in Canada. Changes are made daily on environmental aspects. Anyone who has been involved within the oil industry can say that what we see being done now in the exploration and development is not what was seen 20 or 25 years ago.
I think they are being responsible in what they're doing.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
10:45 a.m.
President, Yukon Chamber of Commerce
Absolutely.
We have the experience of 100 years' worth of mining to look at for both the good and the bad in terms of environmental impact. I think we are in the happy position of being at the infancy of the oil and gas industry here in the Yukon. We are able to look to other provinces from a regulatory standpoint to identify and potentially follow best practices. I am hopeful that the all-party committee on fracking will be factoring that element into its considerations as it comes to its recommendations later this year.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Leef and Ms. Block.
I want to thank all of you again, gentlemen, for being here so early this morning and for your input into the study. It will be helpful indeed, and will find its way into our report, I'm sure.
Again, thank you to Mr. Turner, Mr. Streeper, and Mr. Turchanski for being here with us by video conference today.
The meeting is adjourned.