Environment Committee on Nov. 28th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Good morning, committee members.

I call to order meeting number six of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

We are honoured today to have Minister Aglukkaq with us.

Minister Aglukkaq, we welcome your opening statement, followed by some questions from our committee members.

Thank you. Please proceed.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Thank you. Good morning, everyone, Mr. Chair and committee members.

This is my first appearance before this committee, Mr. Chair, and I would like to start by saying how delighted I am to meet with you today.

Thank you for the invitation to appear here today to discuss the supplementary estimates (B) for fiscal year 2013–14 for Environment Canada, Parks Canada, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

I will begin with a brief statement that will highlight our government's actions on and investments in the environment. After that, I will be pleased to answer any questions that honourable members may have.

As this is the first time I'm meeting with many of you, I would like to start with a little personal background and my goals going forward. As a northerner, I know first-hand how important the environment is for our livelihood, our culture, and our traditions. Our relationship with the land and the water is an important part of our identity and our everyday lives. We still rely on wildlife that feeds our families. We understand how essential it is to protect the quality of our air, water, and environment.

There are multiple jurisdictions, players, and partners, and the issues have broad implications for our quality of life, standards of living, and economy. The degree of collaboration required to tackle environmental issues is something I am quite aware of. It was also a major part of my previous role as Minister of Health.

In the north, it is not a choice between the environment and the economy. Sustainability and balance are a significant part of the approach towards the environment. It is also the approach the government is taking.

Environment Canada has a broad and important mandate. Our business is protecting the environment, conserving the country's natural heritage, and providing weather and meteorological information to keep Canadians informed and safe.

Sound science is central to our work, and that's why, since 2006, our government has invested over $4 billion in science at Environment Canada. These investments support scientists working in well-equipped labs on important environmental issues such as air and water quality. This record level of support has made Environment Canada a world leader in scientific research, and we are proud of this.

By having a strong science base to work from, we are able to manage and deliver policies that will actually make a difference and improve the lives of Canadians, their families, and their environment. It is my goal to make sure our actions at Environment Canada continue to be based on the best available science and information.

Since we formed government, we have continued to advocate for increased transparency and access to scientific data. The joint Canada–Alberta oil sands monitoring data portal that we launched with the Government of Alberta is a perfect example of these efforts. Earlier this fall, I travelled to Alberta and was fortunate to see, first-hand, the great research being done on the ground. We will continue to make great strides on this front and provide the public with access to the scientific data collected through the joint oil sands monitoring plan and the methodology used to produce it.

Mr. Chair, since I became Canada's Minister of the Environment, I've had an opportunity to meet with many of the Environment Canada employees and to see the important work they are doing. In August, I was lucky enough to visit Environment Canada's Ontario Storm Prediction Centre. Here, I got to meet Environment Canada's scientists who provide Canada with globally respected weather services and world-leading scientific expertise and technology.

Our government is making important advancements to protect the quality of our air and water, and we are also enhancing our ability to ensure that our natural environment is clean, safe, and sustainable. For example, when it comes to climate change, our government has introduced strict new rules on light-duty vehicles for the 2011–2016 model years. We also proposed more stringent emission regulations for light-duty vehicles for the 2017–2025 period, and we published the final regulations for heavy-duty trucks.

We also became a world leader when we introduced new, stringent, coal-fired electricity regulations. In fact, it is important for this committee to note that in the first 21 years, the regulations are expected to result in a cumulative reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of about 214 megatonnes, which is equivalent to removing some 2.6 million personal vehicles per year from the roads.

Moving forward, we will continue to play a leadership role by taking concrete actions to reduce carbon emissions. We will build on our actions to date by working with provinces to reduce emissions from the oil and gas sector while ensuring Canadian companies remain competitive.

On the international scene, Mr. Chair, I just returned from the UN climate change negotiations in Warsaw, Poland, where it was a privilege to represent Canada. I think this committee would be interested to know that Canada was very well received at this conference. Throughout the conference, several other countries personally thanked me or even made statements mentioning all of the support that Canada has provided.

During the conference, Canada played a constructive role and pressed for a global climate change agreement that includes all major emitters and supports meaningful global action. This has allowed us to come out of Warsaw with the momentum needed for achieving a new climate agreement in Paris in December 2015.

Canada's leadership was also instrumental in achieving a breakthrough in Warsaw on an important initiative to help developing countries reduce deforestation and forest degradation, which account for nearly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As well, Canada is actively promoting a North American protocol to add HFCs to the Montreal protocol. HFCs are potent greenhouse gases that are used as substitutes for ozone-depleting chemicals, and addressing them will further our efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Likewise, Canada is also an active player on other international bodies dealing with climate change. This September I travelled to Norway to take part in a high-level assembly of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. These potent greenhouse gases and dangerous air pollutants are of particular concern to arctic countries like Canada. They are one of the reasons the north is warming faster than other parts of the planet. In fact, I think it's important to note that Canada is a founding member and a major financial contributor to the CCAC.

Through Canada's chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the overarching theme is development for the people of the north, with three sub-themes: responsible arctic resource development, safe arctic shipping, and sustainable circumpolar communities. Reflecting the importance of taking action on short-lived climate pollutants, Canada has focused work in this area through its chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council has working groups on a number of environmental issues, such as monitoring and preventing pollutants in the Arctic, climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability. The council is working to ensure responsible arctic development and to protect the arctic marine environment. It is also continuing to pursue cooperation among arctic and non-arctic states to support the conservation of migratory birds on which northerners rely.

The government has also taken major actions to protect air quality. We are implementing the air quality management system, which is endorsed by the Canadian Lung Association. This comprehensive approach for improving air quality in Canada results from years of extensive collaboration with the provinces and the territories as well as stakeholders. Continuing this collaboration is essential to its success, as federal, provincial, and territorial governments all have a role and responsibility in its implementation.

Another important development I would like to highlight for the committee is that in October Canada signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This is a global agreement to reduce mercury emissions and releases to the environment. This agreement is important, as 95% of the mercury deposited in Canada from human activity comes from foreign sources.

We're also building on our achievement in conserving and restoring Canada's natural heritage through programs such as the ecological gift program, the habitat stewardship program, and the Species at Risk Act. For example, in budget 2013 our government committed $20 million to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to continue to conserve ecologically sensitive lands. This builds on the $225 million that Environment Canada has already invested in the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Our eco-action community funding program continues to support grassroots conservation activities at the local and regional levels. In September I announced our intention to introduce an emergency protection order for the greater sage grouse.

This initiative again builds on the actions of our government that have increased the size of our protected areas by creating three national wildlife areas, three marine protected areas, two national parks, and two national marine conservation areas. The total of these protected lands is equal to an area larger than the size of Denmark.

Going forward, as promised in the throne speech, our government will build on its record of conservation and protect Canada's rich natural heritage by unveiling a new national conservation plan. The national conservation plan will further increase protected areas for focusing on stronger marine and coastal conservation.

As we move forward we will work with communities, non-profit organizations, and businesses to create and protect more green space in our urban and suburban areas.

I would now like to turn to the supplementary estimates (B) for 2013-14. This is the first budget adjustment for—

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Roughly how much time will you take? I'd like to give committee members adequate time for questions. Could you wrap it up in two minutes?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

It will be less than that.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

On a point of order, Chair.

You will rightly criticize questioners for going on and asking the minister about a whole bunch of things extraneous to supplementary estimates (B). We have now gone 15 minutes—

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

We haven't gone 15 minutes.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Well, whatever we have gone—10 minutes—the minister is just now going to supplementary estimates (B), which is the purpose of the meeting. It's not an abuse of members' privileges, but it's starting to get close to it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Go ahead, Mr. Storseth.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

Mr. Chair, on that point of order, I would just like to recognize that Mr. McKay is actually using up the committee's time with the minister and he's going to point this out later on—

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Okay, we're going to proceed.

Minister Aglukkaq, please proceed. We'll try to wrap it up in two minutes, if possible.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

On the supplementary estimates (B), Environment Canada's submission mainly includes three areas. The first is the renewal of funding to address Lake Simcoe water quality and nearshore toxic and nuisance algae growth in Georgian Bay. The second area is the first phase of the strategy to implement a world-class prevention, preparedness, and response regime to oil spills from ships. The third also includes resources for sustainable management of Canada's oceans.

For Parks Canada supplementary estimates (B), the agency is seeking $26.4 million in additional funding to improve highways and bridges and dams in national parks, $16.7 million to establish Canada's first national urban park in the Rouge Valley in greater Toronto, and $1.5 million to expand and support the national parks and national marine conservation areas.

For CEAA, Mr. Chair, the agency is not requesting any additional funding under supplementary estimates (B). The agency will continue to deliver high-quality and timely environmental assessments for responsible resource development.

Mr. Chair, this highlights some of the objectives being pursued within the environment portfolio to provide Canadians with clean, safe, sustainable environment initiatives.

I would now be happy to answer any questions that you may have related to the portfolio.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Thank you very much, Minister Aglukkaq.

I just want to point out as well that joining the minister today we have Mr. Bob Hamilton, deputy minister, Department of the Environment. Welcome.

We have Mr. Ron Hallman of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Welcome.

We have Mr. Alan Latourelle from Parks Canada, the chief executive officer.

Following the minister's one hour, our officials from Parks Canada and Environment Canada will continue with us for the following hour.

On the first round of questioning, we go to Mr. Carrie from the Conservative Party, please.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank everyone for being here today.

Minister, I do want to say welcome back. Everyone here is aware that last week you were in Warsaw for some very important negotiations. I was wondering if you would be able to update the committee on the key outcomes of the latest round of climate change negotiations, because wherever I go, people want to know what Canada and the world are doing.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you for that question.

As you know, our government is taking a leadership role in the international climate change effort. Canada is representing less than 2% of the global emissions of greenhouse gases. Canada understands that an effective international agreement requires participation and action from all major emitters, and that is why Canada continued to push for such an agreement. The outcome from the Warsaw conference firmly solidified that position.

We're also coming out of Warsaw with the momentum needed and clarity on the next steps for achieving a new climate agreement in Paris in 2015. Canada's leadership was also instrumental in achieving a breakthrough in Warsaw on an important initiative to help the developing countries reduce deforestation and forest degradation, which accounts again for nearly 15% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to the negotiations, Canada also participated in important meetings at a high-level assembly of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Being a top donor for the coalition, Canada's contribution has been significant and is leading to practical actions being implemented to achieve new term emission reductions. Canadians should be proud to know that this leadership is being recognized on the world stage. In fact, when I was in Warsaw, I heard from a number of representatives from other countries who all thanked and praised Canada for its environmental record. Canada will continue to work to advance the development of a fair, transparent, and effective climate change agreement that includes a commitment by all world emitters as well.

Thank you.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Minister, you mentioned in your comments the praise that Canada was getting from around the world for the work we're doing. I was wondering if you could give some examples of the kind of work that Canada is doing around the world that we're receiving praise for, because, as you said, this is a global issue and it's so important that everybody work together. Do you have some examples of the work that Canada is doing?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

I think a great example of some of the work that Canada is doing is the effort it is taking through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Through the CCAC, Canada has been supporting important efforts to address methane and black carbon emission reductions. Obviously, reductions in black carbon emissions are particularly important for Canada due to the climate warming effects on the Arctic and northern regions and on the health of northerners. Canada has supported the development of strategies to lower these types of emissions in the oil and gas sector in Colombia. It was in relation to this work that Colombia made a statement during the meeting thanking Canada for its continued support.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

This morning I met with some of the automotive industry people, and they were talking about some of the work we're doing with the United States and across borders, working together to really make a difference in greenhouse gas emissions. I was wondering, are there any other interesting initiatives you might want to bring up that Canada is taking internationally with respect to climate change?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Among some of the other initiatives that we are doing...Canada has provided $1.2 billion in international climate finances over 2010-1012 to support the mitigation and adaptation efforts in over 60 developing countries. This represented Canada's largest-ever contribution to support international efforts to address climate change. The Fast-start Finance is drawing upon and strengthening Canada's private sector expertise and technologies, and the projects that are being funded are achieving concrete results.

Canada has, among other actions taken, established facilities at the multilateral banks, such as the International Finance Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, to catalyze and promote private sector investments. These facilities are already generating significant environmental benefits across the globe. For example, our facility at the Inter-American Development Bank recently supported a project to bring large-scale solar power production to northern Chile. This investment in the solar power sector in Chile is an important step in the development of a commercially viable solar energy sector in that country. Going forward, projects of a similar nature will be more attractive to private investors as a result of the demonstration efforts of this project.

Environment Canada also used targeted bilateral support to help countries access the expertise they needed to develop and implement mitigation policies that can scale up investment. For example, we are working with Colombia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico to manage emissions from the waste and landfills, again to attract more private investment in this area.

Thank you.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

How am I doing?

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

You have 50 seconds.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Again, coming from Oshawa, the auto industry is so important to our economy. I notice, Minister, our government has taken action with the transportation industry and also with the electrical industry. You mentioned coal-fired electrical generation.

When you went to this international forum.... If you look at climate change, you can have some short-term things we can do, immediate action plans, and then you also have some long-term things. Are you able to comment a little bit? Instead of going to these international forums and the complicated negotiations, and I understand the complexity of it all, because you really do have to have all major emitters signed on to it.... But would you be able to give us an idea of immediate action that you can take on climate—

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

I'm going to ask the minister to respond to that later. We want to give everybody an equal chance. We've used up your seven minutes, but we'll come back to that if we have time.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

All right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Harold Albrecht]

Ms. Leslie.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Thank you very much, and welcome, Minister. It's nice to be reunited after our work together on the health file.

I'm going to jump to some questions where I'm only looking for quick answers. Specifically, we'll start with the emergency order for sage grouse. The only action I've actually seen from government on this is to send out a pretty self-congratulatory press release. We actually aren't seeing any action. So my first question is, when does the government plan to issue the emergency protection order?