Evidence of meeting #100 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was done.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
You do understand that when a department develops a framework for other departments to follow that department should lead by example.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
There's no time for that answer. Hopefully your side can pick that up in the next round of questions.
Conservative
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Commissioner, for being here.
Ms. Leach, thank you very much.
It is great to get this update from the provincial and territorial governments that were participating in this, and I agree this is historic. I was really impressed when you passed along the credit for this report to Ms. Leach. I found that very impressive. Thank you for that.
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
It was also due to her team.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Exactly.
I think it's important to look at the past so that we can better chart our future. I thank you for suggesting and acknowledging that our government has at least the best plan you've seen yet. That's interesting.
I'm also impressed that I see Nova Scotia figure prominently in your speaking notes. Of course, we haven't had a chance to read the entire report yet. I'm sure it's not all roses in Nova Scotia; however, it's nice to see that my home province seems to be taking climate change and climate action very seriously.
I'm thinking provincially and territorially. What kind of impact could a change of government have at this stage? There's an election coming up in the next few months in Ontario. What kind of change could there be of our output? As Linda rightly said, our federal government is basically going to be held to account for the success of the provinces and territories. What kind of impact do you think a massive change in our provincial governments could have on our results?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
Unfortunately, I really can't comment on that. We did not audit that issue.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Okay, that's fair enough.
You talked about the adaptation strategies as lacking detail. Who has adaptation strategies, and more specifically, who has a good one? Does anyone have a really good adaptation strategy so that we can look at it and maybe go to school on it?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
Nova Scotia actually has a good adaptation strategy. There were a couple of others—Newfoundland as well.
Liberal
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
The problem was that Nova Scotia's was done in 2005 and hasn't been updated, but yes.
We found that some of the provinces had adaptation strategies and had actually implemented many of the actions in those adaptation strategies. I started my opening remarks by saying that Canadian governments are taking action. Some of them are taking really good action.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Perfect.
You said the federal government was regularly informing the public on the status and results of their actions taken to reduce emissions. How do we do that? Do we do that through social media? Do we just post it on our website? How are we engaging the rest of the country to let them know what our status updates are?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
We have to report internationally, and that is how we're reporting. That's how the federal government is reporting, through our international commitments.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Is there a communications program, then, or is there a setup whereby we would be reaching out to Canadians to let them know about our success?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
That I can't answer. You'd have to ask the department.
Liberal
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Three minutes. I'll make a comment first of all. I think we're making huge progress. We've invested in energy-saving technology, we're putting a price on carbon pollution, and we're phasing out coal-fired electricity. Unfortunately, I know Nova Scotia is maybe going to be dragging a bit behind in that, but we're investing nearly $2 billion to reduce carbon pollution and support a low-carbon economy.
We are making huge progress, but this is a huge challenge, so it's great to see you point out the fact that there's still lots of work to do. I'm glad to hear we're moving in the right direction, though.
If there are any members on the Liberal side, first, who would like two minutes....
Liberal
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
I feel like I'm at an auction. Going, going, gone. Okay.
I have a very quick question, because I know there's a temptation to politicize your audit, and I've heard it said a couple of times at the table that you'd said the current plan is the best plan we've ever had. I wanted to ask if you'd audited the 2005 plan that was put forward when Stéphane Dion was environment minister, and if you've compared his 2005 plan to the current pan-Canadian framework.
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
I have indicated publicly in the past that it was one of the best plans we've ever seen, and the reason I say this is that it was developed in collaboration with the provinces and territories.
I'm sure Kim has audited all of our plans in the past, but the fact that it was done collaboratively with the provinces and territories is what gives us the confidence to say it's one of the best ones. Normally an auditor would look at a plan and say it's only good if it includes who is going to do what, when, and how much it is going to cost. That is still missing a bit from the pan-Canadian framework. We need some more details, but the fact that it was done collaboratively is what gives us the confidence.