Evidence of meeting #97 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 board.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I do because I worked for a pulp and paper company and in the oil sands. I can guarantee you that every project is designed with the highest environmental standards built in.
Mr. Kerr, what's the state of Canada's environment right now? Or can any of the witnesses give me any environmental indicators and trends?
Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Madam Chair, I was prepared to come here to speak with the committee about supplementary estimates (C) and the interim supply. I did not prepare myself. We can certainly cause a subject matter expert to appear in front of the committee to address the question if you like.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Surely somebody on the committee has ecological expertise.
As an MP I can ask any question I want in supplementary estimates.
This is the environment committee. I'm asking a direct question about the state of Canada's environment and the trend in Canada's environmental indicators.
Perhaps Ms. Milburn-Hopwood would be the logical person. I'm assuming there's somebody with environmental or ecological expertise on the panel.
John Moffet Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
I can point the member to the Canadian Environment and Sustainability Indicators that we publish. Those track—
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I know that report. I'm asking about what are the trends in Canada's environment. It's a very simply question and highly relevant.
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
I would respectfully disagree. It's not a simply question. As an ecologist, you know in Canada, environmental quality is comprised of numerous complex interactions. We're able to track and report on the state on specific indicators of specific attributes. Environment Canada does not have a postilion on, nor do we report on a single statement about overall environmental quality or overall directions around environmental quality.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I find that shocking actually because in my own research most of Canada's environmental indicators are improving, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, water quality and so on. There are certain environmental indicators that are not, Great Lakes water quality and so on. I would have expected a better handle on that particular question.
I would like to ask Ms. Sue Milburn-Hopwood a few questions, if that's possible.
Conservative
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
If you don't ask, you don't get.
Ms. Milburn-Hopwood, I was very interested in your comments on conservation. I own private land myself. I have land that has a conservation easement on it. I represent farmers and landowners in a very large area of western Manitoba.
If you can delineate it fairly quickly, what's your strategy in private land conservation and investment? How are you going to deal with the farm community in implementing conservation on private land?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment
We have a number of programs that work on this issue. One in particular is the natural areas conservation program administered by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. That program is in the final year of the funding that it has been allocated already. That's just one program that focuses on private lands.
We also have a number of other programs. The habitat stewardship program can provide funding for securement and also for activities on land. Then we have another program called SARPAL for species at risk. It focuses particularly on agricultural lands. We will enter into agreements with farmers or ranchers to do specific activities.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thanks. I'm a big fan of SARPAL. I think it's quite a success story. Will it continue in the new budget? Is there funding for it?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment
Yes, absolutely.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
That's good, because the enforcement approach related to conservation on the private lands landscape, as I think you might agree, has been a dismal failure.
I'd like to talk a little about the Species at Risk Act for a minute. It's been going since about 2001, 2002. Is that when it was put...?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment
It was 2002 and 2003.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Can you name one species that has been brought back directly because of the Species at Risk Act? The peregrine falcon came back by itself and the white pelican came back by itself, but is there a single species that has been brought back because of the Species at Risk Act?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment
That's not a simple kind of question, because—
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment
There are a number of factors to look at, and I think you would argue that the peregrine falcon has benefited from the act. We can come back to you with an answer that looks at the broad range of species—
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Sorry, Ms. Milburn-Hopwood, I don't mean to cut you off.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I did ask a previous director of the Canadian Wildlife Service that question about four years ago. There had been about $300 million spent on the Species at Risk Act, and her answer to the question was zero, so the act is a deeply flawed act that needs some work. It's certainly not your fault, and again, I think your department has some great programs, including the SARPAL program and the habitat stewardship program. As you know, in Manitoba, I have a little bit of experience with that program.
Thank you very much.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
Thank you very much. You did that right on the button.
Okay, Ms. Duncan.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you very much. It's good to you all here again. Sorry to take you away from your important work. I have three questions. I may not get to all of them. I have a theme every time you come back, and it's the UNESCO strategic environmental assessment.
It's my understanding that this responsibility has been assigned to Parks Canada. When I look at these estimates and the previous estimates, I'm not seeing any additional monies. Why are we not seeing additional monies here for that? That's a major undertaking.
What dollars are being assigned to directly engage indigenous people? That's one of the directives of UNESCO.
What additional costs do you anticipate in order to complete that strategic environmental assessment?