Environment Committee on Dec. 4th, 2007

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

I want to answer that question. That file is very important for me as Minister of the Environment.

However, I'm going to answer in English because I want to be very precise.

There have been three reviews of spending. Two were conducted by the previous government and one was conducted by our government. As a matter of practice, I think it's generally a good idea to constantly look at whether your spending is matching the priorities.

In what I'll call the third review conducted by our government, reductions were made in the department's budget, and that was not to the Canadian Wildlife Service.

There were two previous reduction exercises that reduced funding for Environment Canada. One was led by John McCallum and another by another member of cabinet. Those reductions were never made. They were just cash managed for a period of years--carrying money forward, doing some prudent financial management.

As a result, when reductions to the Canadian Wildlife Service were being eyed, I was not comfortable with them, so I reviewed the issue and ordered that no reductions be made.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I understand, but can you confirm that programs have been simply stopped? I'm thinking in particular of the Wildlife Viewing and Research Program.

Can you confirm that there have been cuts of nearly 100% to the Canadian Wildlife Service, which oversees the national reserves? I'm thinking in particular of the Lac Saint-François National Wildlife Area.

Can you confirm, Minister, that there have been cuts at your department? And yet, today, for 2007-2008, the Department of the Environment is seeking $13,329,361 from its 2006-2007 operating budget.

How can you justify the fact that you're proposing to carry over budgets when you've cut expenditures? Do you find that acceptable? Do you admit there's a budget forecasting and management problem at your department?

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

You asked some questions before the last question. So I'm going to respond to your address and your questions.

With regard to last year, there is a 13% increase for that part of our department. This year, we're spending—

We're spending $84.5 million on the Canadian Wildlife Service compared with $75 million last year. I see it as a priority. I think it's important for Canadians. As minister, conservation is a huge personal priority. We're spending hundreds of millions of dollars more on this area, and I wasn't prepared to support any reductions in this regard.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

That nevertheless does not explain your carry forward request from the 2006-2007 budget to 2007-2008. I don't understand that.

Furthermore, where is the $350 million that you agreed on with Quebec for fighting climate change? When will Quebec receive its payment so that it can achieve Kyoto Protocol targets?

You know that Quebec has a reduction plan that would make it possible to reach the Kyoto targets. The Government of Quebec is waiting on this commitment that you made to it at the time.

What's standing in the way, and when will you meet your commitments?

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

I believe Minister Line Beauchamp will announce today precisely what she will be doing with the $350 million. That's her—

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Have you paid the money to Quebec?

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

The money is available for Quebec. It's there whenever it wants it.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

All the projects have been approved by the federal government?

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

No.

Ms. Beauchamp is responsible at the Quebec National Assembly for Quebec's taxpayers and voters. She doesn't work for me. She is an elected representative, as I am. This is a shared file.

We respect the provinces' jurisdictions. We are not here to be the boss of the provinces. That was the former regime of the Trudeau and Chrétien years, not ours.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Lussier.

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

Minister, I'd like to continue by talking to you about the National Water Strategy. You have an overall budget of $10 million for that strategy.

Would it be possible for you to provide the committee with a copy of the National Water Strategy statement? Do you have that document with you?

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

With respect to that question, I'll be happy to get you any and all information that's available.

What we're doing is a number of things. We're looking at, first, the banning of raw secondary effluent going into our water, lakes, and streams; we're looking at major initiatives with respect to the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake Simcoe; we're looking at initiatives with respect to water on first nations; and there will be some other initiatives that we haven't yet announced that I'm excited about that we're working on. And we'll get you all the information we can with respect to your question.

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

Can't you table a document today?

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

I said we'll get you all the information we can on that issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Minister, you can send that to the clerk and we'll distribute it to all members.

Go ahead. You have two minutes.

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

In talking about the National Water Strategy, you mentioned the Great Lakes, but it seems to me that, in the House, I mainly heard about waste water.

What is your objective for waste water?

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

We've been working cooperatively with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, where all 14 ministers of the environment come together. It's not a joint federal-provincial committee; it's a committee because all 14 of us are ministers and it's a shared jurisdiction. They've been working for many years, but we have not been able to bring conclusion until late on essentially the banning of raw secondary effluent into our lakes, waters, and streams. We're working with the provinces, and that should be gazetted in short order.

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

When we talk about waste water, we often think of very costly infrastructure, such as purification plants for waste water treatment.

Are your budgets included in infrastructure projects exchanged between the provinces and federal government? Is infrastructure part of your budget? Are you transferring amounts from your budget to municipal infrastructures?

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

No. We worked with my colleague Lawrence Cannon, from the Council of Ministers, who is responsible for the infrastructure file. It is very important to work with the provinces and territories and to negotiate an agreement. I believe we've already announced an agreement with British Columbia. We have to work together with the provinces. We accept the fact that this jurisdiction is shared with some of the provinces.

I was very pleased that my colleague Mr. Cannon could work to reach an agreement with Quebec. We're awaiting the priorities of the Province of Quebec. Part of the strategy, $8 billion, was available to meet new regulations for the first time this year.

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

Will the Department of the Environment grant funding for infrastructure out of that $8 million?

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

They were ready in Mr. Cannon's department. It's very important.

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

All right.

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

That's why we're working with the provinces. These files aren't simple, and we respect the provinces' jurisdictions. That's something that's very important for us, even for former provincial ministers like me.

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

In your—

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Lussier, your time is up.

I will go on to Mr. Christopherson, please.