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.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I know you said you wanted to go at 12:30. We have one more to make it a full round.
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
Sure, of course.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you very much.
I am a federal member of Parliament, therefore my questions to you will be to do with my mandate to hold the federal government accountable.
When I look at your report—as usual a fabulous, detailed, and helpful report—you note a lot of concerns with the failure by the federal government. Few federal departments or agencies have assessed or acted on climate change risks. Environment Canada did not develop an adaptation action plan. Environment Canada did not provide adequate leadership and guidance to other federal organizations to adapt adaptation plans. The government did not consistently report publicly on the results of implementing its regs—I would add there that the federal government has yet to implement its regs either on the carbon tax, methane, or the stepped-up agenda for shutting down coal-fired. The government did not clearly indicate how it would measure, monitor, and report on provincial and territorial contributions to Canada's 2030 target.
You reported many similar issues last fall. You reported these in your previous report on adaptation and so forth. Do you have confidence in their response to you that more will be coming?
I add to that the concern in the decision of the federal government to delay the release of federal funds to the provinces and territories—and to first nations and Métis settlements—to take their action. I just look at the delay in the release of money. Do you have confidence that the federal government is understanding your report and the fact that you're calling for expedited action?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
As you know, Ms. Duncan, my role is to audit the government on its actions. You have clearly outlined some of the concerns we've raised. We've made recommendations to the government on all these issues. They have accepted our recommendations.
The role I can play is to follow up and audit. The role this committee can play is to bring the government to this table and ask them those questions.
We have been auditing climate change for a decade at least, if not more, and we will continue to audit this subject.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Yes, it's not very reassuring. Clearly, as you stated, Commissioner, it is the federal government that's going to have the responsibility to hold Canada accountable for delivering.... Most of these reports are based on the Copenhagen targets, but I notice in the declaration that everybody's committed to the Paris targets as well. Can I presume that your next audit will include looking to that as well?
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
Yes.
In our last audit we looked at both the 2020 and 2030 targets, and will continue to audit against the 2030 target. We found when we looked across the country that there were only three to four jurisdictions that actually had 2030 targets.
As well, what I didn't say in my opening statement is that some of these targets are based on different baseline years, and there's one other big issue on targets: some of them are sector-based. Some governments have an economy-wide target, and others have targets that are based on sectors. The concern as an auditor is we're all aiming at the same target, but we're not sure that everybody is aiming at that target.
The value of this is to see that in black and white and to encourage auditors general to do this again after my mandate is over: do another collaborative audit in 2023 and 2024, and then maybe another one in 2027 as we aim towards 2030. I think that would be a wonderful piece of work.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
Thank you.
I want to thank you, Commissioner Gelfand, and Ms. Leach, for taking the time to come to present this to us.
It's really nice to see that the government saw the importance of a partnership with the provinces and territories in trying to meet the target and going about that work. That you've reflected on that and done it at the audit level is fantastic; it's really appreciated. You've given us a lot of good work to reflect on what needs to be done.
It is a challenge, because it isn't all within our mandate. It's about working with others who have different mandates to meet this very important goal for Canada.
Thank you for all you've done. Thank you for taking the initiative, going outside of the box, and doing it differently. We really appreciate it. Thank you for your suggestions on what we can do to hold the government's feet to the fire, and thank you for accommodating all of the back-and-forth this morning with the votes.
Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Office of the Auditor General
Thank you very much, and you're most welcome.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I will suspend, and then we'll be back in a few minutes.
[Proceedings continue in camera]