Evidence of meeting #152 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 plan.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
—and the expectation is that provinces will meet the standard.
Conservative
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Should the provinces meet the standard, we are happy to grant equivalency.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John Aldag
We are out of time in this round.
There were a couple of issues that were touched on by Ms. Stubbs, and if you would like to submit the follow-up documentation, I think we can share it on the website or with committee members so that everybody will have the information.
We are moving next to Mr. Amos and Ms. Dzerowicz.
Ms. Dzerowicz , we'll go first to you.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
I just want to say thank you so much, Minister, and thank you so much, parliamentary secretary and all of you, for being here today. I really appreciate it. This is an issue that is super important for the residents of my riding of Davenport. I would say that it's one of their top issues. I want to make two comments because, Minister, I think you've done a really wonderful job of saying this, and this is something that's near and dear.... Because of the publicity that's in the media today, there seems to be some idea that the only thing the federal government is doing to tackle climate change is putting a price on pollution, and that's not true.
I want to say thank you so much for saying that under the pan-Canadian framework we have a rich number of urgent climate action measures that we are putting into place to combat climate action. You've mentioned the clean fuel standard, the elimination of the coal-fired plants and the historic investment in transit. You haven't mentioned the zero emissions and car infrastructure, but the list goes on. To me, that was important to reiterate. I do think that through your answers you've been mentioning that and I don't think we should wait for a perfect plan to take action on climate change. We should put in as many measures as possible.
There was also an earlier question about whether we are meeting our Paris accord targets. I know that this comes up in my riding of Davenport. It's been less than three years. We're not going to see massive emissions reductions in less than three years, but that doesn't mean we stop. If anything, I know that people in my riding say to keep on moving forward, that they know you have all the right elements. They say to keep on moving forward and keep on moving as fast as possible. I want to say thank you so much for all of these efforts. I believe that at least in my riding, they feel they're the right efforts and, if anything, they ask me to go faster, as fast as possible.
Formally, my first question is actually for the parliamentary secretary, just because I want to get his voice in here. Davenport residents, especially the youth in my riding, are very concerned about the number of species that are disappearing on a daily basis. In Canada we have listed on our website I think 521 plant and animal species at risk under the species at risk registry. I just wonder if our parliamentary secretary, Mr. Fraser, can update us on how Environment and Climate Change Canada is moving forward with the protection of species at risk.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
Thank you very much.
The young people in your riding should be very concerned. As the minister pointed out during her opening remarks, since the 1970s about 60% of our wildlife is gone. Canada is one of five countries that represents about three-quarters of the world's remaining wilderness, which positions us uniquely to take serious action and set an example for the world.
In budget 2018, we set aside $1.3 billion for nature and conservation efforts. To put that in perspective, that's the largest single investment of its kind in the history of our country. We're moving forward with protected spaces. We're moving forward through the nature fund to partner with different organizations that are going to establish protected areas that are key habitat.
The specifics on all the different species at risk that you mentioned may be listed would vary, whether it's the steelhead trout, the southern resident killer whale or the different caribou species. I'd be happy to deal with them in more specificity if you wish.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
That's great. Thank you. I do have one more follow-up question.
There have been other questions in my riding, and often they talk about corridors between the U.S. and Canada and making sure that species stay alive. I know that they are also particularly concerned about certain types of species that are at risk and that are some of our historic animals in our country, such as the southern mountain caribou in British Columbia. I wonder if you could talk to us about what approaches our government is taking to ensure the survival of species at risk, such as the southern mountain caribou in B.C.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
Sure. On the cross-border issue, it's a big deal, whether you look at sage grouse or whether you look at the porcupine herd that crosses the Yukon-Alaska boundary.
With respect to southern mountain caribou, this is something that should alarm all Canadians. Of course, there are different species, but we should all recognize that the caribou is on our currency. It's a charismatic species that, in my mind, is something we can't lose.
If you look across the species, there are about 4,000 or so—I think I'm close—animals still alive today. That's a reduction of more than one-third in the past five years. These are dire circumstances.
I was in northeastern British Columbia last week for meetings with communities and different groups that were trying to restore efforts. The situation is a little different, depending on where in the province you sit, but we have serious efforts going on to partner with the Province of British Columbia to establish a province-wide conservation framework under section 11 of the Species at Risk Act.
In the central region, I really want to draw attention to the leadership role that the Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations have been playing. They're starting to reverse the trend of decline and are actually seeing recovery efforts through a combination of maternal penning and predator control measures that they're putting in place. It's not going to last, however, if we don't restore the habitat as well.
We're partnering right now with the Province of British Columbia and those first nations communities, to ensure that we create the conditions that will allow the population to not just come back but to sustain itself over time.
I know there is some anxiety in communities that use the backcountry for recreational purposes or for economic purposes. Rest assured that we're working with communities and with the province to establish the best path forward that will mitigate any social and economic consequences, with the primary goal being preventing the extirpation of these herds.
Just one final note—there are herds that have existed for thousands of years in southern British Columbia that are gone today. This is something that should shock the conscience of every Canadian.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here with us this afternoon, Minister.
Like my NDP colleague, I find it unfortunate that the Liberal government is currently playing politics with climate change. Stop saying that the Conservative Party is not aware, is not informed that these changes exist. I can confirm that we, the Conservatives, are aware of this.
Minister, with respect to your much-touted environmental plan, I would like to know—and the question is simple—whether or not you will be meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gases.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Thank you, Minister.
Again today, during questions, you said that the official opposition party, the Conservative Party, had not tabled its environmental plan. Let me inform you that Canada now has a Liberal government in power, and that you are the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. You have the power to make a difference. You have been waiting for our plan for 365 days and you have been in power for 1,230 days.
Why are you waiting for our plan? Why didn't you take action beforehand? Although you claim otherwise, are we that good at the environment?
Liberal
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Canadians are waiting for it. You don't have a climate change plan. That's inconceivable.
Conservative
Liberal
Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
If you really believe in science, in the facts, come up with a plan. We have been aware for decades that climate change is real.
I know why it's taking you so long to prepare the plan.
It's because you're developing that plan with oil lobbyists. You had a secret meeting. Andrew Scheer had a secret meeting with oil lobbyists with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Your plan is not a plan for workers.
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Chair, I would like to have the right to speak.
Minister, you know that time is running out. The same is true for climate change. You say that we have not done our job, that we have not been rigorous in our climate change plan. I can tell you that the plan has been drafted.
Now, I'm going to ask you the question.
