Evidence of meeting #6 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 million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
The government has taken the steps to protect the sage grouse. On September 17 I announced my intentions to make an emergency protection order. The order will prohibit activities that affect the species—
NDP
Bob Hamilton Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment
Yes, we're working right now on the order and hoping to issue it shortly. I can't tell you exactly when it will be. There's no funding allocated at the moment for that.
Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment
We will find the funds necessary to deliver on what's required, until such time as we can go and ask for additional funding if it's required.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Okay. Thank you.
Minister, can you tell us if you plan to ensure that the order protects sufficient critical habitat free from oil and gas and other industrial development that would actually allow the species to recover?
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
I believe the recovery plan is in the works at this point in time. Once that's completed, it will be public.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Okay. Thank you.
You raised that you are now chair of the Arctic Council. Congratulations on that. It's exciting to see Canada at the helm of the council for a couple of years.
Why is climate change not one of the priorities for the Arctic Council?
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
That is a priority. There are a number of initiatives within the Arctic Council mandate that affect the environment, not just in the science related to black carbon or methane. It's also in areas of protecting the environment, such as safe arctic shipping and standards of that nature.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
Sixteen years of research have been done by the Arctic Council just on climate change. It's an important area, and that work will continue.
NDP
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
Perhaps I can explain how the themes for Canada are arrived at. We consulted with the northern regions, the three territories. The recommendations came from environmental groups, aboriginal groups, and government in terms of what they want to see during the Canadian chairmanship for the Arctic that will actually benefit northerners. Those recommendations were put forward to the Arctic eight ministerial forum, because the Arctic Council functions on a consensus basis. Canada's priority initiatives were approved by the Arctic eight going forward.
There are a number of areas that we've identified. But that does not stop the 80 other projects that are currently undertaken by the Arctic Council in all areas around climate change, black carbon, safe shipping, search and rescue—there's a long list. But to focus on Canada's priorities, those were arrived at through consensus of the Arctic eight, as well as the stakeholders in the three territories.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Okay. Thank you for that.
My next questions are around the oil and gas regulations that you raised in your opening statement. It's four years now that we've been waiting for these oil and gas regulations. When will they be ready?
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
As indicated in the throne speech, the Government of Canada is now working with the provinces to reduce the emissions for the oil and gas sector. But at this time it is premature for me to say when they will be ready. There has been good progress in that area in the last few years. Once they are ready, I will share that with the committee.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
I can't give you a timeline, but work continues, and when we're ready we'll release that.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
As you know, documents around the negotiations on our oil and gas regs were obtained by Postmedia. It appears that even with the most ambitious proposals on the table, such as Alberta's 40/40 proposal, oil sands emissions are still going to grow over 60% in absolute terms.
If the toughest oil and gas regulations on the table would still allow our oil sands emissions to grow at that really strong rate, what's the plan to close the gap? Will the gap be closed through other sectors, or will it all be the oil and gas regulations?
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
The Government of Canada has been very clear that we are taking a sector-by-sector approach to address reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We've moved forward on the two largest emitters—the coal-fired electricity and the vehicles.
We will move forward in the area of the GHGs and the oil sands, as outlined in the throne speech.
Canada remains committed to meeting its targets and will continue to move on that front. The other area that I think is important to highlight is that we're also moving forward in the national conservation strategy. As outlined in my opening remarks, we have moved forward in a number of parks that are greater than the size of Denmark.
It's important to balance reducing greenhouse gas emissions with creating further green spaces.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
With the sector-by-sector approach, do you think you'll have to adjust the other sectors? Do you think you'll have to make up that ground in the other sectors, or do you think we'll meet our targets just through the oil and gas regs?
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
We're going to continue to work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We're going to take a sector-by-sector approach. We produce less than 2% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. We'll continue to focus on areas that make up our portion of the greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, we'll be moving to protect our lands. Once the national conservation plan is ready, we'll be moving forward on that front.
It's also important to note that moving on these files requires us to work with the provinces and the territories, which have a role in implementing many of the initiatives. It is a partnership. Agreement with jurisdictions is an important piece that we have to consider in any work that we do.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
Thank you, Minister Aglukkaq.
Thank you, Ms. Leslie.
We'll move now to Mr. Sopuck.