Evidence of meeting #25 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was year.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Bob Hamilton  Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment
Alan Latourelle  Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada
Carol Najm  Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance Branch, Department of the Environment
Ron Hallman  President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU

Thank you.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht

We went way over time on that one for Mr. Bevington.

We move now to Mr. Toet for five minutes.

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Lawrence Toet Conservative Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to address quickly some of Mr. McKay's concerns about an investment in climate change. In the national conservation plan that we just unveiled, there's $50 million for wetland rehabilitation, $50 million for uplands, and $100 million for natural area conservancy. All these areas work as flood protection, especially in the case of wetlands. There's great flood protection aspects to that and there's also carbon sequestration that's occurring with all this. So, there's a huge investment in the national conservation plan directed to all the concerns that Mr. McKay brought forward. I think he'll be very happy to hear that today.

Also, Mr. Carrie talked about clean air and the air that we breathe as Canadians. I think that's a very important aspect of what we do in our environment and in the protection of our environment. Mr. Carrie asked you a question about the clear air regulatory agenda, but you never had the opportunity to answer.

Would you like to have the opportunity to answer that question he brought forward?

4:30 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU

Thank you for that.

On the clean air quality management system, since October 2012, following a four-year, comprehensive, multi-stakeholder process with the federal-provincial ministers of environment, it was agreed to start implementing a new air quality management system to further protect the health of Canadians—and the environment—from air pollution. The federal government is responsible for implementing two key elements of that system, which are the new ambient air quality standards and the base level for industrial emission requirements for major industrial sectors.

In May 2013 we established a more ambitious air quality standard for fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act of 1999, and currently we're working on the development of the air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. The completion date for that is expected next year.

We're also preparing for the publication of the first phase of the industrial emission requirements. Once that's published, for the first time ever, we will be nationally consistent on the emission performance standards for the industrial facilities across Canada.

We're also continuing to collaborate with provincial-territorial counterparts on the reduction of air pollution through the local regional air quality management initiative, and we expect the implementation of the air quality management system to provide us with information that will be used to help us develop initiatives across Canada to protect the health of Canadians, as well as the environment. We are making progress in those areas.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Lawrence Toet Conservative Elmwood—Transcona, MB

That's good.

There's another thing we heard a lot about as we were working through our different conservancy studies in working towards the national conservation plan. We talked a lot about the protection of our natural treasures by creating national parks. Mr. Latourelle will be very happy about that. From the testimony we received, and also from the work of the committee through our report, the need for future generations to be able to appreciate and enjoy these spaces was very clear.

I'm wondering if you also could give to our committee a bit of an update on our government's unprecedented funding, which we've brought forward for new national parks.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU

Thank you.

Under the budget, as part of the national conservation plan, of course, we're committed to conserving our natural heritage. That includes the creation of national parks such as the Nááts’ihch’oh park, which is now being debated in the Senate, and the Bathurst Island and Mealy Mountains parks. The creation of the new national parks is funded through a specific budget allocation. For example, budget 2012 is a source of funds for the new Bathurst Island and Mealy Mountains parks' budgets. They're all incorporated.

In expanding our world-class national park system, our government provides Parks Canada the necessary funds to establish, develop, and operate new national parks. Since 2006, our government has protected 50,000 square kilometres of natural areas in Parks Canada's system. On May 14, Bill S-5 was tabled in the Senate on the Nááts’ihch’oh park, which is again one example of our commitment to protecting our areas. We'll continue to make investments in park development nationally.

Thank you.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Toet.

We'll move now to you, Ms. Leslie and Mr. Choquette. I believe you're sharing your time.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I have one quick question. Earlier we were cut off in a question asking about the budget that will be allocated to get us to our 2020 target, but I'd like to talk about the $391 million that you talked about for park infrastructure in your opening statement.

There has been much fanfare about this $391 million. You will acknowledge, Madam Minister, that $1 million of that money is budgeted for this year—correct?—and that $385 million is actually for after the next election. Isn't that right?

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU

No, that's incorrect.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

That's incorrect.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU

That $391 million is announced in this budget to deal with the parks infrastructure for this year.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

It was announced in the budget, but the plan to spend is $1 million this year and the rest for after the next election, is that correct?

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht

Mr. Latourelle can answer that for Parks Canada.

4:35 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada

Alan Latourelle

No, it was announced in the February budget and it will be reflected in our estimates through the supplementary estimates later this year. But they're for this year and then for future years.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

Am I not understanding the budget? In the budget it was written out $1 million scheduled for this year and $385 million for after 2015.

4:35 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada

Alan Latourelle

No, there's $391 million over five years and through the supplementary estimates, again, the numbers will be reflected.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

Okay, well, I stand corrected. I read it in black and white, so that's interesting. I'll have to come back to that.

4:35 p.m.

Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada

Alan Latourelle

The only thing I could say is that you're probably reading the section that's on an accrual basis, that shows that even if you invest, for example, $50 million this year, the depreciation would be close to $1 million this year only. So it could be the difference between your interpretation.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

I still have trouble with that, but I'll pass on the rest of my time to Mr. Choquette.

4:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht

Mr. Choquette.

4:35 p.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Thank you again, minister.

Everyone has said that you won't be able to reach the low climate change targets by 2020. Even Environment Canada officials have said so.

How many megatonnes are you short as far as reaching your 2020 target goes?

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU

Thank you for that.

As I stated, we remain committed in dealing with the targets that we had identified domestically through our government. We are taking a sector-by-sector approach to reaching those targets. We have taken actions in the two areas where we see the most emissions domestically. That's in the transportation and electricity system. I think I mentioned that in my statement.

Since 2005, we have seen a real decrease in that. Greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 5.1% while the economy continues to grow. Emissions per capita have also been decreasing since 2005. This trend is projected to continue to 2030.

4:40 p.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

Thank you, but I would appreciate it if you would provide us with the answer in writing, in other words, how many megatonnes you are short in order to reach your target by 2020.

I know you work very hard with the provinces and municipalities. Quebec and California are collaborating on a fantastic initiative, a carbon exchange. Ontario is also interested in such a system.

What are your thoughts on the initiative?

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU

I don't know about the bursary program of Quebec. If you want to share that information I'd be happy to review it.

Thank you.

4:40 p.m.

NDP

François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC

You don't know about the cap-and-trade system with Quebec and California...?