Natural Resources Committee on June 3rd, 2014

Evidence of meeting #33 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 offshore.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-22, An Act respecting Canada's offshore oil and gas operations, enacting the Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act, repealing the Nuclear Liability Act and making consequential amendments to other Acts

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jeff Labonté Director General, Energy Safety and Security Branch, Energy Sector, Department of Natural Resources

Samuel Millar Senior Director, Frontier Lands Management Division, Petroleum Resources Branch, Energy Sector, Department of Natural Resources

William Amos Director, Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Ottawa, Ecojustice Canada

Paul Barnes Manager, Atlantic Canada and Arctic, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Theresa McClenaghan Executive Director and Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Barnes, have you ever been involved in any spill cleanup with spill-treating agents?

10:45 a.m.

Manager, Atlantic Canada and Arctic, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Paul Barnes

No, I have not.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Have you heard about the spill-treating agents? Can you give us a quick synopsis of what you think they might bring to the industry in Canada in the very unlikely event of a spill, as we've heard?

10:45 a.m.

Manager, Atlantic Canada and Arctic, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Paul Barnes

Yes, for sure.

A spill-treating agent, basically, is a chemical that one can apply immediately upon the spill of oil, in particular. It dissipates the oil from being together, spreading it out a little further into the ocean, which allows for it to dissolve more quickly. That's the true benefit of a dispersant.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Are you looking forward to being able to utilize these in the industry? How does the industry feel about them?

10:45 a.m.

Manager, Atlantic Canada and Arctic, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

Paul Barnes

We feel very positive about it because, as I mentioned, it gives us another tool in the tool box to use in the event of a spill. We feel that in certain circumstances it also provides a better environmental benefit than just leaving the spill on its own or cleaning it up with other measures.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Thank you very much.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Thank you, Ms. Crockatt.

Thank you very much to all the witnesses for being here today and giving your knowledge and expertise in the answers to the questions that were asked today.

We have, from Ecojustice Canada, William Amos. Thank you very much for being here.

We have, from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Paul Barnes. Thank you very much for being here.

We have, from the Canadian Environmental Law Association, Theresa McClenaghan, executive director and counsel. Thank you very much for being here.

We'll be back on Thursday to take a look at the nuclear side of Bill C-22.

The meeting is adjourned.