Environment Committee on Nov. 26th, 2014

[Mitch Bloom]

Well, for our organization in the north, we take that very, very seriously. As I know you understand, in almost everything we do we take that in line, including in our contributions, where we try to focus on renewables. As you know, most of the energy produced in the north remains diesel-based. We try to get creative with all of our partners, to look for ways to make those investments with the contribution programming around renewable sources of energy, whether it's solar, wind, or other forms.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Northwest Territories, NT]

How do you feel that's going so far?

[Mitch Bloom]

I think it's an important thing to move forward, but like all technology, it takes time. We are making progress as the north.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, François Choquette]

Thank you, Mr. Bevington. Unfortunately, your five minutes are already up.

We will therefore continue with Mr. Yurdiga.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you to all the witnesses for being here today. Obviously this is very important. We have to continue on with our maintenance and ensuring that our environment's protected.

First, to Mr. Latourelle, approximately $57 million is being appropriated for Parks Canada to improve the highways, bridges, and dams. Is this appropriation to address projects outside of normally scheduled improvements?

[Alan Latourelle]

This $57.7 million is all based on deferred work for assets that are in poor or very poor condition, i.e., for highways, bridges, and dams. That is the priority of that investment of $57.7 million.

That is augmented by our overall capital budget of approximately $122 million, which we invest every year in our overall asset maintenance and recapitalization.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Will this bring that deferred maintenance or construction up to a level where we're caught up, or is this addressing the projects that are two or three years old?

[Alan Latourelle]

It's addressing the most current and emerging emergencies. The overall backlog of deferred work is in the range of $2.8 billion.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you.

Mr. Hallman, I'd like to address this next question to you. It's regarding first nations and aboriginal consultation. It's a very important aspect of environmental and sustainable development. I realize that we consult with first nations and Métis settlements. Do we have any mechanism to address Métis living outside the settlements?

[Helen Cutts, Vice-President, Policy Development, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency]

Whether the aboriginal group, the Métis group in particular, lives outside or in a particular area, it's irrelevant to the conduct of the EA. In terms of what we do, we try to examine what the effects would be on the Métis. We would consult with them. We would go to the community and talk with them, hear their concerns, hear their information about what's happening on the project, and learn about ideas for mitigating those adverse effects.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

So the Métis settlements are one group, the first nations another. Would you be dealing with all these Métis associations that represent the people of Métis settlements?

[Helen Cutts]

Yes. The way it works is that we look at the communities that are affected by a project. Then we talk to them and we gather the information. We do not limit our attention to only first nations. It's a full consultation with any of the affected groups, whether they're Métis or first nation.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you.

I have one last question, and I'll address this to Mr. Martin.

I see there's almost $80,000 for reinvestment of royalties from intellectual properties. Can you explain to the committee what this item is about?

[Michael Martin]

Certainly.

There is a statute called the Public Servants Inventions Act. Under that act we may issue a financial award to public servants who have created an invention that has been commercialized. Annually we receive an amount equal to the revenue that arises from the licensing of such innovations that is remitted to the consolidated revenue fund. In 2013-14 those revenues for Environment Canada were $79,757.

We do two things with that: we provide recognition awards for those individuals, and then, in particular, we invest in new scientific equipment that advances our mandate.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you.

That's all.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, François Choquette]

You still had about 25 seconds, Mr. Yurdiga. At any rate, thank you.

I will now give the floor to Ms. Freeman for five minutes.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

On the $391 million over five years that budget 2014 announced to deal with crumbling buildings, roads, and dams, my understanding is that in 2014 there was a commitment to spend $1 million. Is that correct?

[Alan Latourelle]

Mr. Chair, maybe I can explain very briefly or try to make this simple, because it really is.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Please do.

[Alan Latourelle]

The $391 million is the amount in cash. This is how much we will spend over the five-year period.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Yes.

[Alan Latourelle]

In year one we are planning to spend the amounts that are before you as supplementary estimates, the $57.7 million. That's what we plan on spending.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Okay.

[Alan Latourelle]

That $57 million depreciates over the life of the investment we're making, so that's why you will see $1 in the budget document, budget 2014.

[Mylène Freeman, NDP, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

That clears that up. I had a series of questions as to where this 57.6 is coming from. Okay.

I'm not sure if this has been addressed. I'm sorry, at one point I was only half listening to one of my colleagues. They did talk about the amount announced on Monday, which was $2.8 billion for improvement to historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas. Is this new and additional money? That's really the question.