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.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
If there's a phone ringing, can someone identify whose it is?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
Okay, thank you.
Sorry about that. I just thought if we could interrupt that interruption.... Please proceed.
Director, Ambioterra
As I was saying, we also participate in the consultations held by the various Conférences régionales des élus in order to, for example, ensure that the recommendations on species at risk are implemented. There is currently a lack of communication between stakeholders. They do not maintain a close relationship. That is why we meet with them, and during consultations we try to get recommended recovery programs for certain species at risk included in the RCMs' plans.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Centre-North, AB
How much of the work that gets carried out by your organization is done by volunteers?
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Centre-North, AB
How do you recruit volunteers? Is it mostly with the landowners? Is it just from the community? How do you incent interest in the community into coming out and volunteering for your organization?
Director, Ambioterra
It's both. Of course we hold public meetings with volunteer landowners, given that they are our primary target group. In addition, we recruit volunteers during our activities, whether those are public meetings or our meetings with the different players or from our partnerships with other regional and provincial NGOs.
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I will use my speaking time to allow you to inform us some more.
The Minister of the Environment, Mr. Kent, appeared before the committee Tuesday morning to speak to us about the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada. He said that it was a little more difficult to invest in Canada's parks, in particular, increasing the network of protected areas and following up on other measures, such as these, and at the same time invest in protecting people's health.
I would like to know what you think about the fact that when we protect the environment by providing incentive measures or more tools to groups like yours, Ambioterra, and when we encourage citizens to raise awareness, ultimately, our health benefits simultaneously.
Director, Ambioterra
Definitely. Protecting the environment is the first step in our health system. People are still not aware that we need quality water, air and food. That's what we are made up of. If our water, air and food are polluted, the risk of cancer will definitely increase, as well as epidemics caused by bacteria in water.
Clearly, investing in the environment is the foundation of a health system.
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Earlier you were saying that 95% of the lands are privately owned and that the landowners do not have enough information. You have to send them letters. There are 40 landowners who would like to protect their properties. However, you have just lost 50% of your funding this year.
Does the federal government not have a role to play in this? Is it not up to them to hold public consultations, provide information to private landowners and contribute more money to the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk in order to do this work?
Director, Ambioterra
Of course, if we had additional funding, we could get more work done at all levels. All the players could contribute more and disseminate information to the greater public and to the landowners.
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
All right.
Earlier Mr. Pilon spoke about species at risk. What types of stresses put species at risk? Is it due to human activities? Should we pay closer attention to certain human activities that create pollution for animals, among other things?
Director, Ambioterra
All of our activities can be destructive, but there are always ways to reduce our environmental footprint. Most policies are already in place. Unfortunately, there are not enough people on the ground enforcing these laws, policies and regulations. If there was better enforcement at all levels of government, I think there would be far fewer environmentally destructive practices.
Take for example farming practices. On the industrial and municipal level, most technologies and practices exist. However, often this requires people to change their behaviour. They are not used to using these technologies or it costs them something. Clearly it is also important to invest in this transition.
I would like to reiterate that it is essential that the laws and regulations be enforced. Most of the existing laws and regulations are good ones. It is their enforcement that needs to be improved.
NDP
Anne Minh-Thu Quach NDP Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
So we don't need to reinvent the wheel.
We spoke about interdepartmental dialogue. On that topic, a few witnesses appeared before the committee and suggested that the Department of Environment work more closely with the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, in order to guarantee the protection of the environment and habitats. What do you think of this?
Director, Ambioterra
That is part of the ecosystem approach. A number of Canadian authors have written on the topic of this approach. Given that there is not enough communication between the different departments and directorates, this approach promotes greater and continuous cooperation between the different departments.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
Thank you very much, Ms. Gareau.
It was good to have you here with us today.
Thanks to our members for their good questions.
We're going to suspend now for just a few minutes while we move in camera to consider the draft report.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera]