Evidence of meeting #26 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 aquifers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
9:55 a.m.
Environmental Consultant, Climate and Water, As an Individual
It's not the.... What percentage of the area that has been mined has now been reclaimed in that way?
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
We saw a number of areas that had been reclaimed.
On page 7, you said, referring to CEMA, that, “Environmental groups have withdrawn from this organization because some 'consensus' recommendations have not been accepted.”
So environmental groups have withdrawn. Is it all environmental groups, or some?
9:55 a.m.
Environmental Consultant, Climate and Water, As an Individual
I think it's some of the key environmental groups.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Are there more environmental groups that stayed or more environmental groups that left?
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
It was actually more that left. There were three that left. I think there are five still participating in CEMA.
In your 2006 report, you referred a lot to climate change. That was your primary focus, I believe. In this report from today, it's not focusing on climate change or the Bennett Dam. That's okay, but there was an absence of the other causals: the pulp industry, local development, a uranium mine that was there.
What does that play in the contamination of the waters?
9:55 a.m.
Environmental Consultant, Climate and Water, As an Individual
It plays some role, but some of the contaminants, such as the naphthenic acid, are sort of typical of the oil sands development and are tracers that can be used to say whether those developments are indeed causing seepage into the groundwater or contamination of sediments in the river.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
No, that's just the House getting called back, opening up the session.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Thank you.
I appreciate your testimony, Dr. Bruce, but there are a lot of interesting things that we have learned. I encourage you to pay a visit to the oil sands; it was very enlightening.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Thank you very much.
We have a couple of minutes left.
Monsieur Bigras, do you want to just take a couple of minutes to bring us to the top of the hour?
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Okay.
With that, we'll switch witnesses.
Dr. Bruce, thank you very much for coming in and sharing your recommendations and thoughts. You were asked to produce a few reports that you used for reference. If you could do that homework and get it back to the clerk, I'd really appreciate it.
As Dr. Bruce leaves the table and we call up our next witnesses, I'll mention that one of the things I'd like to do before we adjourn for the summer recess is have either a lunch or a supper as a committee and have in Scott Vaughan. It would be in an informal setting, just a chance to build relationships and camaraderie around the table.
Essentially, we'd have an end-of-session meal in an informal setting, probably at the parliamentary restaurant. I'm thinking of either next Monday night, the 15th, or on the 17th for lunch.
I just wanted to run that by you to see what your availability is like and what your thoughts are on it.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Unfortunately, I can't do the 15th. I might be able to do the 17th--
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
We may just have to pick a day. I was thinking originally about Wednesday night, but that's the Speaker's supper, and I'm sure everybody would love to go out to Kingsmere and have the great feast that the Speaker always puts on.
We should have a motion on it. Could I ask somebody to move a motion that we have a meal together next week as a committee, in an informal setting?
It's so moved by Mr. Woodworth.
So if you'll leave it with me, we'll find a date that works, either the 15th or the 17th for lunch.
10 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Okay. So ordered.
We'll continue on with our hearings this morning.
We have joining us now Mr. Mark Corey, assistant deputy minister for the earth sciences sector with the Department of Natural Resources. Joining him is David Boerner, director general of the Central and Northern Canada Branch of the Geological Survey of Canada. We also have Alfonso Rivera, manager of the groundwater mapping program, from the environment, safety, and geographic foundations programs. They are also both from the Department of Natural Resources.
Welcome to the committee.
I assume, Mr. Corey, you'll be reading your opening comments.
