Evidence of meeting #80 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 funding.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Ambioterra
Yes. I myself have a PH.D. in environment, and all of my employees have a science degree, for example in environmental studies, forest engineering or aquatic biology.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
What change if any has there been in federal government funding for your efforts since you began 10 years ago?
Director, Ambioterra
Over the past 10 years, there have mainly been delays in response times. This year, there were cuts.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
How about amounts? How much has your funding changed from when you began 10 years ago?
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
So it's less than when you started 10 years ago.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
What amount of federal government funding did you receive 10 years ago, and what amount are you receiving today?
Director, Ambioterra
We received between $50,000 and $60,000. This year, the amount is $30,000.
Conservative
Director, Ambioterra
We used to receive $50,000, but this year, the amount received is $30,000.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Thirty thousand.
Thank you very much.
Can you tell me about the 44 diagnostic plans you prepared? Have you monitored and followed up on how many of them have been implemented?
Director, Ambioterra
Yes. We cannot follow up on all the 44 landowners. It depends on funding. If we received more, we could do all of those follow-ups. We do them especially for those who signed an agreement. Landowners' documents are the first step in their commitment to protecting the environment. It can take a number of years before they do that and have long-term, legal protection.
Currently, we do about 10 follow-ups per year, but it always depends on funding. We receive funding from the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk and the Quebec Wildlife Foundation. Regarding funding that we receive from the latter, it is based on new landowners. The foundation does not pay for follow-ups. We can do it through donations, but they are a small proportion of our funding, compared to government grants.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
Your time is up, Mr. Woodworth. We'll need to move on.
Ms. Duncan, you have seven minutes.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much, Doctor Gareau.
You said there needs to be a higher integration with municipalities. Could you please give this committee very specific recommendations for what the federal government could do that would help?
Director, Ambioterra
As I was saying earlier, it would be giving municipalities or RCMs as examples showing them how they could apply biodiversity policies regionally, for example. The government could also provide experts, given that usually neither municipalities nor RCMs have the money to hire biologists. In southern Quebec, they don't hire biologists. They need scientific support and funding.
There must also be coordination among the different levels of government. Environment Canada, for example, could delegate a person or two to look at existing programs and see, for example, how they could be applied regionally.
Regarding land-use planning, there are Regional Conferences of Elected Officials, which bring together elected officials in the regions. They can see how different federal programs can be integrated in plans. There is the conservation plan, for example. It should be looked at to see how the points it contains could be integrated. It is important to take these principles into account.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you.
You mentioned a green municipal fund. You also talked about funding programs that need to be maintained and improved. If you could make your wish list to this committee, what would you like to see the federal government do to make your life easier?
Director, Ambioterra
For funding, as I said, there is the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, for example, and interdepartmental funds. There are a number of funds. The different existing programs must be considered. There is also a list of species at risk.
Currently, for example, Quebec's Chub and Small Percidae Recovery Team has less than $5,000 a year to operate. That is not enough. It would be very helpful to have funding earmarked for these recovery committees or projects based on species at risk. For example, Quebec's Chub and Small Percidae Recovery Team monitors about 15 species at risk. The funding needs to correspond to the number of species covered and the scope of the action to take to carry out the work.
Responses also need to be sent on time. Ideally, since the financial year begins in April, the response should be sent in February or March for organizations to have enough time. In fact, as a non-profit organization, we have to seek funding and counterparts elsewhere. Before doing so, we have to wait for the responses. We have to have received a letter of support, for example the positive response from the HSP, to receive funding, otherwise we will not receive funding. Given that situation, reducing response time as much as possible would help us.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you. I couldn't have heard this right. Did you say $5,000 dollars for the recovery of species, when you have 15 species at risk? What's the money you really need to do that work?
Director, Ambioterra
I could not give you the exact amount because I have not done an evaluation. However, to provide a full-time salary, we would need at least $50,000 for a coordinator, for example. That would be the minimum, certainly.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Could you talk to the importance of the Species at Risk Act?
Director, Ambioterra
The act is very important, because without it, species would not be protected. It is essential, certainly.
Regarding its application on the ground, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans can work with the Department of Natural Resources, with municipalities and NGOs like ours to enforce the act.
Liberal
Director, Ambioterra
Yes, certainly, but there needs to be funding in order to have officers on the ground to enforce the act.