Environment Committee on March 12th, 2009

Evidence of meeting #10 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was health.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Oil Sands and Canada's Water Resources

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Cynthia Wright Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment

John Cooper Director, Water, Air and Climate Change Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Department of Health

Wadieh Yacoub Medical Officer, Director, Health Protection, First Nations and Inuit Health, Alberta Region, Department of Health

Albin Tremblay Chief Enforcement Officer, Department of the Environment

Fred Wrona Acting Director General, Water Science and Technology, Department of the Environment

Roy Kwiatkowski Director, Environmental Health Research Division, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Department of Health

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

While I was at the site, I was surprised to see the degree of reclamation in one area. I did not have a fly-over, which I hope we can have when we have our trip to the oil sands. Could Environment Canada share with us whether they are satisfied with the integrity of reclaimed land at the oil sands?

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Bezan

Ms. Wright.

10:55 a.m.

Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment

Cynthia Wright

Briefly, Mr. Chair, the reclamation is just starting with respect to the first tailings ponds, so these are early days with respect to the tailings ponds, if that's what your question is about.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

No, I'm talking about not just tailing ponds but the actual reclaimed land that we--

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Bezan

You mean the mined area.

10:55 a.m.

Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment

Cynthia Wright

Okay, you are talking more broadly.

Coincidentally, I met with CEMA earlier this week, and they are actually asking for greater involvement by Environment Canada in reclamation. Normally reclamation would be a provincial responsibility, but because we have authority with respect to the migratory birds, species at risk, and other areas of interest, they would like to tap into more of our knowledge to participate in reclamation.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

Are we satisfied with the integrity of reclaimed lands to this date?

10:55 a.m.

Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Department of the Environment

Cynthia Wright

We've been less involved in that because of our responsibilities, so we've been asked to have a greater involvement.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

Thank you.

10:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Bezan

Your time has expired, and time has actually expired for the committee meeting as well. I do thank all witnesses for appearing and sharing their expertise with us and helping us along with our study of the oil sands and their impact on water.

With that, we are going to adjourn. I ask that all witnesses and observers clear the room, because we have an in camera meeting that starts right after this.

Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.