Evidence of meeting #64 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was projects.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
The precedent has been established, then, which is good. I think that's splendid.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
My point was that it was quite possible within the parameters of the programming.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
But what would drive project proponents to do more of that, I think, would be a new category called “ecological infrastructure”, because normally the traditional way of thinking drives people to hard-infrastructure projects, right?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
I really can't comment on that. Honestly, I just don't have that degree of expertise.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
We have about a minute and a half if somebody else on this side wants the question?
Mr. Choquette.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be sharing my time with my colleague, Ms. Quach.
I would like to talk about your second method of encouraging environmental sustainability, which is by requiring that projects meet certain standards. I am a bit surprised by that. This is the first I've heard about your projects needing to meet certain environmental standards.
Is it a matter of having new constructions with LEED certification, for example, or do they have to meet even higher energy efficiency standards? What are your standards, exactly?
A witness who appeared before committee said that it would be good if funds allocated under the federal government's infrastructure programs were dependent upon meeting certain environmental criteria. Do all of these programs require that environmental standards are met, or is it just some of the programs?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
All right. I will give you some examples and hope they will answer your question.
A key example under the Building Canada fund is that all newly constructed or materially rehabilitated buildings must exceed the energy requirements of the national energy code of Canada for buildings by 25%. There's a standard code, and the requirement is that it has to be 25% higher.
Solid-waste projects have to demonstrate that they result in the actual reduction of solid waste going into the landfills. For wastewater effluent, they have to at least meet the federal wastewater systems effluent regulations.
Those are the key examples of the kinds of norms and standards.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Could you list all of the environmental standards for the committee? You listed a few, but is that for all of the funding allocated by Infrastructure Canada?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
It's under the Building Canada fund and the green infrastructure fund for sure.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
We do not follow the gas tax fund in the same way, so you're right that it's not.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Thank you.
Thank you to the witnesses for being here.
You said that all of the funding from the Green Infrastructure Fund has been allocated since 2009. Between 2009 and 2012 or 2013, did you see an increase in the number of projects that applied for funding under the Green Infrastructure Fund each year?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
I do not have the numbers, but perhaps my colleague can answer that.
Principal Advisor, Policy and Communications, Priority Initiatives, Environmental Initiatives, Infrastructure Canada
As Ms. Rascanin said, the program was launched in 2009. At the beginning, it took some time before we received projects. By 2010-11, we were getting plenty of projects. Now, all of the funding has been allocated.
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
This project seems to have become quite popular. But you said that it might not necessarily be renewed. Climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are hot topics these days. We need to take action, and quickly. In light of that, it doesn't really make sense to cut this funding.
As part of your recommendations, would you consider suggesting that it be renewed, or would that have to come from the committee?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
We can talk to you about the green infrastructure fund, which is ongoing. It has not been not cut; money is flowing. Certainly we didn't want to imply that it's been cut. However, any decisions about new funding are outside the scope of what we can talk about here.
It is an ongoing program. The projects are just starting. The money will flow as long as the projects—
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
But, no other applications are being accepted, which means that it's not renewable, correct?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
There is a constrained envelope, absolutely—
Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch, Infrastructure Canada
—just like all....
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
With that question, the time is up.
This comes back to our discussion of the previous session when we talked about estimates and budget. We'll have to wait for the budget.
I want to thank our witnesses for the time you've given us today. It's been very helpful.
Committee members, I can see our report becoming a little longer based on the input from today and, possibly, from an additional session. I think it's been very helpful. Thank you very much.
We will adjourn for three minutes to allow our witnesses to leave and then we'll move in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]