Evidence of meeting #68 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 parks.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Vice-President, Strategic Policy and Investment, Parks Canada Agency
It's a reasonable assumption, and we will do our best to budget towards those things.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Okay.
For the Parks Canada folks, I assume you're aware of the generational opportunity in Halifax that is Birch Cove Lakes. You did talk about partnerships with indigenous governments and provincial governments. You didn't mention municipal governments. One of the recommendations in our protected spaces report is that Parks Canada and the federal government consider partnerships, including territorial, indigenous, provincial, and municipal governments.
Will touched on the $7.4 million, and you did give us some feedback on the Magdalen Islands. Also, I think you said something about the Strait of Georgia, was it?
Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, Parks Canada Agency
It was the southern Strait of Georgia.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
The southern Strait of Georgia, so it's $3.9 million in negotiation and a few million in expanding parks. Is that the difference, just $3 million across the country for expansion of parks?
Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, Parks Canada Agency
Yes, probably the best way to initiate an answer to that is that the majority of the conservation gains are likely to come from other jurisdictions—provinces and territories—that are primarily the landholders.
Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, Parks Canada Agency
Yes, and municipalities. You're absolutely right. I would say that although a municipality or an area in a municipality would not probably result in a large land area.... You actually need 100,000 square kilometres to get 1% terrestrially. However, a lot of municipalities are in areas of high biodiversity, so opportunities in municipal areas and with private landholders are all the types of things we're looking at, because they're all going to contribute to the ultimate goal, which is biodiversity.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I would certainly in future budget years encourage you to consider taking a close look at Birch Cove Lakes and a partnership with the municipality there in Halifax.
I did want to ask about what Jim asked about with regard to the abandoned boats program. You don't administer that through ECCC, but you do administer oceans protection, which includes the money for the abandoned boats. I was a little confused by your answer.
Director General, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
With regard to Environment Canada's enhanced capacities in terms of these funds, those would be associated with more emergency preparedness and response. We're looking at things like regional response planning, enhanced meteorological services, which we heard about in a previous question, and enhancing our science capacity. There are indirect support mechanisms to that work, but that is very heavily engaging other government departments in terms of the derelict vessels.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Okay, I appreciate that.
If there is any more time, I'll pass it along to Mr. Bossio.
Liberal
Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
Actually, I just have one quick question.
The normal budget for the youth strategy plan is $3.2 million, and you've added another $11 million for hiring an extra 1,140 secondary and post-secondary students to help in the parks this year. Under the youth employment strategy, are all of those rural jobs?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Finance Branch, Department of the Environment
I would have to get back to you on that. I don't know.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and Finance Branch, Department of the Environment
I don't know. I'd rather come back to you, unless Parks wants to answer that.
Liberal
Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
Of the $14.2 million that's allocated, $11 million is for 1,140 jobs. Are those all rural jobs?
Chief Financial Officer, Parks Canada Agency
Are they rural? They're across the country. We have jobs created for students across the country. They could be here in the national office in Gatineau, but I think for the most part, they're probably...but again, I don't have the statistics with me.
Liberal
Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
Do you have any data on the multiplier effect of the investment that Parks Canada makes into the rural parks areas and what impact that has on rural economies?
Chief Financial Officer, Parks Canada Agency
I don't have this information.
Vice-President, Strategic Policy and Investment, Parks Canada Agency
I don't have it either, because it's not my part of the organization, but we do a lot of that work. If the committee is interested in that information, we can certainly take that back and share it with you.
Liberal
Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON
If you would, that would be greatly appreciated.
Liberal
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the people being here today answering the questions as well as they can.
When the environment minister was here last—and I just want to make sure I have this right—we put out an economic analysis, a pan-Canadian report, including a document that goes through our approach to carbon pricing. That document only states that the economic costs of a pan-Canadian framework will be modest and that the impacts of carbon pricing, including for households and businesses, will become available as each province and territory clarifies the precise design of the carbon pricing system.
We have two provinces. It's pretty clear what B.C.'s been doing for years, and Alberta's in. What's the cost?
