Evidence of meeting #59 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was plan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Alex Manson Special Advisor, Climate Change Policy, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of the Environment
Yes, Canada, under the Kyoto Protocol, will have access to CDM credits.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
I understand, under Mr. Baird's plan, each and every LFE is only allowed to access or purchase 10% of its required reductions under this mechanism. Is that right?
3:50 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
Yes.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Okay.
Since CDMs are based on absolute emission reductions, when these credits are factored into each firm's required reporting, are they credited based on an intensity-based regime or as the plan dictates until 2015?
3:50 p.m.
Director General, Strategic Priorities, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
The allocation of the CDM credit, the access to the CDM credit, would be based on the absolute emissions gap that any individual firm has after application of the intensity target. Remember, at the end of the day, a tonne is a tonne, whether that tonne results from an intensity target or from a—
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
I have a half a minute left.
Can you name another country that is participating in the CDM that is using intensity-based targets?
3:50 p.m.
Director General, Strategic Priorities, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
No, I don't believe there are any other countries—
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
So Canada is the only country, to your knowledge, that is participating ostensibly under the Kyoto Protocol CDM mechanism but using intensity-based targets?
3:55 p.m.
Director General, Strategic Priorities, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
That's right.
May 16th, 2007 / 3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you for coming to explain, in greater depth, the climate change action plan. Before discussing the actual plan, I would like to go back to the notice of intent you referred to on page 2. I would like to know what was the benchmark year used in this notice of intent that you submitted to us on October 21, 2006.
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
So don't touch them. Okay.
No benchmark year was mentioned in the notice of intent published on October 21, 2006.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
And the year 2003, which was supposed to be a benchmark year, wasn't it one?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
We referred to a target reduction on anywhere from 45% to 65% from 2003 levels, but only for 2050. No mention was made of the benchmark year in the notice of intent for the regulations to come.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Why did you indicate 2003 as the benchmark year for 2050, but when you talked about the reduction of emission intensity, you mentioned 2006?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
Since the regulatory framework was published on April 26 last, all benchmark targets, including those for 2050, are based on the benchmark year of 2006. Further to consultations held between October and April, the new target for 2050 was adjusted. The target is now set at 60% to 70% of 2006 levels by 2050.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Do you feel that, by adopting 2006 as the benchmark year, we recognize past efforts made by business?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
In order to recognize the past efforts made by business, there is a provision enabling these companies to get credit for early action. An envelope of 15 megatons will be available for those companies that exceeded objectives in this field. We have a process that will enable us to recognize all businesses that have achieved verifiable reductions, so that they can obtain credits. These credits will be tradeable.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
If you want to recognize the past efforts made by businesses, why not set a cap of 15 megatons rather than recognize the total reduction of greenhouse gases? Does that mean that you do not want to acknowledge of the past efforts made? It's as if you are telling a citizen who has a waste recycling plan that one recycling box will count but another one will not.
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
The government weighted various arguments and felt that an envelope of 15 megatons was adequate recognition of past efforts.
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment
Various groups and businesses submitted arguments and comments to the government. The government decided to set this envelope at 15 megatons.
3:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
What arguments convinced you to make this decision?
