Evidence of meeting #41 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was commissioner.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
You also said you don't necessarily know whether all the equipment is available or in working order. Is that correct?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
That's correct, sir.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Ms. Thomas, how many kilometres of booms do we have on the east and west coasts that are presently concerned with oil spills?
Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
It's not kilometres of boom; it's metres of boom. I have some stats here for you.
We have approximately 88,000 metres of boom in the five coast guard regions, and 3,000 metres of offshore boom was provided to the U.S. department to respond to the Deepwater Horizon. We're getting it back in March.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
So you have about 8.8 kilometres of it, if I'm doing some good math here.
In the spill in the gulf, do you know how many kilometres of boom were put out?
Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
In total there were hundreds of thousands of metres.
NDP
Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Right.
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
We're drilling off the coast of Newfoundland right now a deeper well—
Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Yes.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
—than the one that erupted in the south.
What I'm concerned about here is that the commissioner comes out and says we don't have a plan, that we don't know where the equipment is or if it all works, that the training isn't consistent across the country, that there isn't national training, and that after 20 years we still don't have a national regime.
You mentioned the partnerships, Mr. McDonald. The companies, when shipping the oil, have to have an emergency response plan. Correct?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
That's correct, yes.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security, Department of Transport
I believe so. I'd have to verify that, but I believe it is.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
I think it would be important to know that, for public assurance.
Mr. Vaughan, do you know?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
No, we don't know.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
I have a question about water quality for Mr. Keenan.
The comment was made earlier that there's one water quality station 150 kilometres down the Athabasca River. Is that correct?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, Department of the Environment
I'm going to refer that question to my colleague, the director general of water.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
That's an impressive title, director general of water. Restless nights, I'm sure.
Dan Wicklum Director General, Water Science and Technology, Department of the Environment
Unfortunately, my salary's not nearly as impressive.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
We'll try to do something about that in our recommendations.
Director General, Water Science and Technology, Department of the Environment
There is one long-term water monitoring station, but it's a very incomplete picture.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
It was suggested that this water quality station was initially set up to monitor the effluent released from pulp and paper. That's correct?
Director General, Water Science and Technology, Department of the Environment
That's right.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Does the station currently monitor the toxins released from the oil sands operations? Does it look for those?