Environment Committee on March 22nd, 2007

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

I do not believe you understood my question.

What investments have been made in the improvement of Canada's environmental situation? What announcements have been made? What is the true amount of money that is on the table for the environment?

[Basia Ruta]

The Main Estimates announce initiatives relating to climate change. The total amount is of some 850 million dollars. As the minister mentioned, for Environment Canada, the Main Estimates provide for about 67.3 million dollars for these initiatives for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Very well. In which budget would one find the ecoEnergy initiative?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

It is contained in the budget for the Department of Natural Resources.

[Basia Ruta]

Indeed.

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Very well.

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

This is why the Prime Minister made the decision he did, and I was pleased to see that the official opposition had adopted a similar system, in other words a committee of the Council of Ministers dealing with both the environment file and that of energy security, and including all of the ministers who are major players in the environment dossier. It is good that they be able to all work together.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Thank you, Mr. Harvey.

Mr. Lussier.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Minister, I will begin with some good news. The Canadian Press has just informed us that you will be announcing targets for big polluters. Were you aware of this? What is your reaction to this news? It is Mr. Harper who announced this to us a few minutes ago.

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

We have been working very hard on the target plan. As I said, it will be coming in short order.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

I have a second question, Mr. Chairman.

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

My job is to draft policy. I do not deal with the communications aspect.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

I recognize, Mr. Minister, that wind energy falls under the Department of Natural Resources. You have made cuts to the wind energy budget. Does the 2007-2008 budget contain funds for wind energy? Have you increased this program after having abolished it?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Improved.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

By how many million?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

This is a program of my colleague, the minister for Natural Resources, and he would be very pleased to provide you with the precise numbers. I could also ask him the question on your behalf.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

And what is the situation with regard to the power line connections between the provinces? Does this also come under the Department of Natural Resources?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

No, that falls under my jurisdiction.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Are there draft agreements between the provinces?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Draft agreements?

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Agreement proposals aimed at connecting the electrical power grids funded by the federal government.

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

We are working with the provinces. There are four or five agreements that have not yet been signed or four or five provinces with which we have not yet come to an agreement. We do not want to tell the provinces what to do. I will take Quebec as an example because it was the first province about which an announcement was made. The government of Quebec does not have to report to us; it is the federal government that must report to Quebeckers.

Before the launching of the initiative, the government of Quebec had a plan that outlined certain priorities. The minister from Quebec came to see me and relayed to me his government's plan. I was very pleased to see what his initiatives and intentions were. He told us that he wanted a greater commitment to the provinces on our part and funding from us. The provinces will then be accountable to their voters and not to the federal government.

I hope that you will be pleased with this federalist overture.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

In the 2007-2008 budget, have funds been allocated for the connection of the provinces' electrical grids? Is it an amount of 100 million dollars or of $200,000?

[John Baird, Conservative, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I will answer in English, because it will be easier.

We front-end loaded our commitment to the provinces, so it's all front-end loaded. That money will go into the ecoTrust, with your help, in the coming week or week and a half. The national grid has been identified as a priority for Ontario and Manitoba. I'm not sure where Quebec stands on that. I know they had an initiative to expand the grid between Ontario, but that preceded the ecoTrust initiative.

[Marcel Lussier, Bloc, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

It is therefore included in the billion and a half dollars of the ecoTrust.