Environment Committee on May 1st, 2012

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

I would like to respond to that. I think it's very relevant if this organization believes that the environment and the economy are inextricably linked, and it's clear they do. Now we've seen major changes to the environment, and I would like to know how they feel about that. Also, as a member of Parliament, we do have the right to question as we see fit.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Ms. Rempel, on the same point of order...?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate my colleague's comments, but while questioning lines are one of the great privileges we have as members of Parliament, there are also frameworks and rules we must adhere to when doing that in committee, and one of them is to stay relevant to the scope at hand.

The scope at hand is the positive environmental outcomes of the Canadian Oilsands Innovation Alliance.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

I'd like to respond.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Is it on the same point of order?

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Carry on.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

I don't think there's anything more relevant than my line of questioning right now. The budget has 120 pages out of 400 pages devoted to “environmental streamlining”. I would use another word. It's 50 years of safeguards that are being eliminated. If we're talking about the science and the importance of science, and I agree wholeheartedly, I think this issue needs to be addressed, and I think our witnesses may have good input here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

On the same point of order, Ms. Rempel?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Centre-North, AB]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

I'd also remind my colleague that the budget implementation bill is subject to the review of the finance committee. We are sitting in the environment committee here today. I would encourage her to direct those questions to the finance committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

I think we've now moved on to debate, and I think we've—

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Well, could I have a last response to that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

No. I think we've heard adequate debate. I'm going to make a ruling so that we can move on.

The motion was to invite COSIA here, and I'll read it out:

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee hear from Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, to discuss the anticipated positive environmental outcomes of their mandate at their earliest convenience.

I'm going to rule in favour of Ms. Rempel's point of order. I would ask you, Ms. Duncan, to focus on the reason why they've been invited. You were questioning on more generally the cuts to the environment and how that would possibly impact their research. Let's focus, then, on the reason why they've been called before this committee, and that's the positive outcomes on what they're doing.

Thank you.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll just finish by saying, since I have five seconds left, that—

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

No, the clock was stopped. You still have three and a half minutes.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Do I? Okay.

I think it's important that it be said that I've asked that the environmental protection piece be removed from the Budget Implementation Act.

Let me understand, then. This year it's about building the team. It's about developing goals. Is that where we are in this?

[Judy Fairburn]

Correct.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Ms. Fairburn, is there anything else you can share about the science at this point?

[Judy Fairburn]

I think the most important thing I can say is that there's unprecedented collaboration on where we're going. We are working to bring the best minds together. We respect science. We want to have the best solutions, science-informed.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Are there any overarching goals in terms of where you want to get in terms of water? You can give me no goals on that, or we're just going to have to wait till the end of this year?

[Judy Fairburn]

I think we're just going to have to wait until that evolves.

You know, this is significant. This is different, unprecedented. This is leadership. The CEOs of our firms have signed this. They are going out there for an unprecedented opportunity here, to together set goals.

So yes, it is a journey. It's going to take us a little bit of time, but it's an important cultural step in our industry.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Ms. Fairburn, did we perhaps bring you in too early? Did we perhaps bring you into this committee too early? I mean, at this point you can tell us that you're building the team, you're working toward goals. Should we perhaps have brought you in at the end of the year, when you could have given us sort of the meat—your expectations, the goal, the strategic plan, the organization, the funding?

[Judy Fairburn]

Probably, or hopefully, our organization and the committee will have another opportunity to chat, but I think it's very important that Canadians know that the industry has taken this critical step. This is significant in terms of the commitment that's coming right from the top of our industry to really embark upon the evolution of.... You know, environment's integral to where we're going.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

I appreciate that this critical step has been taken, but there's not much more you can tell me. I think perhaps we've done an injustice to you in asking that you come here. I think it would have been fairer for you to have come next year, when you could have given us your goals.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

I thank Ms. Duncan for the question and her suggestion.

Monsieur Choquette, cinq minutes.