Environment Committee on March 5th, 2009

[Kevin Stringer]

The Government of Canada believes that carbon capture and storage is a hugely important technology moving forward. It is a new technology. It is a technology that needs to be proved up. It's a technology that's further advanced for coal-fire-generated plants, but it's a technology that we believe will be essential for the oil sands, particularly around upgraders but also around in situ--hence the investment in terms of demonstration projects to move in this direction. We think it will be essential.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Stringer, with the clean energy dialogue with President Obama, again, they need to deal with their coal, and we are looking at carbon capture and storage for dealing with the oil sands. They're focusing on the coal, and together both the United States and Canada are providing billions of dollars for that technology. Do you see that moving forward much more quickly in a positive way?

[Kevin Stringer]

It is moving forward. The $1 billion that we have, the funds that Alberta has announced, means that Canada is at the leading edge at the carbon capture and storage demonstration stage. It does take time for this stuff to be demonstrated. The costs are very high for this, but the sense is that the cost will come down with demonstration. We'll be able to see which technologies work best. We'll be able to test how best to bring down the costs, and we do think it is a way forward.

It is not just for oil sands and coal-fire-generated plants, but those are two obvious areas where there's an important requirement for that. It's for industrial uses generally.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Okay. And I have just one quick comment, Chair. I've asked this to be passed on--

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We'll get to that in a second.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Later? Okay.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would like to thank our witnesses for their excellent presentations. I think we learned a lot from this session. I think it's the second time some of you have appeared, and we appreciate your time.

Before we adjourn, I have a couple of items that, with your permission, I will raise. I believe we only have two groups of witnesses next week, so I was thinking, given that we've discussed CEMA quite a bit, that with your concurrence we could invite them to appear next Thursday, along with Health Canada and Environment Canada. Is there any objection to that?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

With all due respect, Mr. Chairman, CEMA has come under considerable criticism as a process. All but one NGO have pulled out, all the first nations have pulled out. Even the senior advisers to the Government of Alberta have recommended that there not be reliance on CEMA any longer. I'm frankly amazed to discover that DFO is relying on CEMA. If we're going to look at those, I want to have some assurance that we're going to hear from the NGOs and the scientists who have raised the concerns about the processes we're relying on.

The other one would be RAMP. Mr.Woodworth had a very good question. It's my understanding that RAMP is doing the water quality and water quantity studies. That's a 100% industry-funded program, whereas CEMA does biodiversity, air pollution, everything. So we might want to be looking at--

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes. I'll go to Monsieur Bigras, but maybe this isn't as simple as I thought it was.

Monsieur Bigras.

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

I agree with Ms. Duncan. CEMA is funded in large part by the industry. Furthermore, it is greatly supported by the government of Alberta. I would prefer to hear the views of scientists and NGOs, rather than of representatives of CEMA. If we bring in CEMA, we will hear the position of the industry.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

For next week, we will stick to Environment Canada and Health Canada.

Mr. Warawa has an announcement to make.

Mr. Warawa, you have the floor.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Yes, and regarding CEMA, I would agree they should be here at some time, but maybe not--

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Maybe when we go to Calgary.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

What is CEMA? Do you want the executive director? Do you want all the members?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We can discuss that I think at steering committee, but for now I don't think we should invite them, as you say, for next week.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Unless CEMA is now with Industry.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I've asked that this be passed out to all members of the committee. The House leaders have all agreed to pass the National Cemetery Act of Canada by unanimous consent, but it requires each of us to review this document. So perhaps you would at your earliest convenience.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is there a motion to adjourn?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I don't understand what he means, that it requires us to review it.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I guess they've asked all members of Parliament to look at this kit as one of the conditions for unanimous consent. Is that correct?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Not at this committee, but--

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

On our own?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

On your own, and we are seeking unanimous consent.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay, thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.