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 know that report. I'm asking about the trends in Canada's environment. It's a very simple question and highly relevant.
Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
I would respectfully disagree. It's not a simple question. As an ecologist, you know in Canada, environmental quality is composed 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 as a single statement, overall environmental quality or overall directions around environmental quality.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I find that shocking, 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, such as 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
—but 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.
Go ahead, 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 now 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.
In that connection, what dollars are being assigned to directly engage indigenous people? That's one of the directives of UNESCO.
As well, what additional costs do you anticipate in order to complete that strategic environmental assessment?
Rob Prosper Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, Parks Canada Agency
Perhaps I can start. Thank you for the question.
Certainly, in terms of the circumstance in Wood Buffalo and the issue that we have there with the state of the park—that's the state of the universal values there—we're guided by the guidelines for UNESCO in terms of the processes that we have to have in place to address those concerns. The two areas that we're currently working on are the strategic environmental assessment, as you know, as well as an action plan. We're working on both of those elements with indigenous groups, with the intent to develop a robust response that would—
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Okay, I don't want to interrupt. I know all of that. My specific question is whether you have been allocated additional resources, or are you having to rob Peter to pay Paul? Are some of the Parks Canada programs suffering because you're having to carry the weight of doing the strategic environmental assessment?
Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, Parks Canada Agency
We have internally reallocated resources focused on addressing the strategic environmental assessment and engagement with indigenous groups. A comprehensive action plan, however, will require additional resources, and that is something that we would be looking at going forward.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
We definitely don't see those in these estimates.
My second question is about the transfer of indigenous resources for SARA. I think those are probably coming from Indigenous and Northern Affairs to Environment and Climate Change Canada. I don't know where they are coming from, but there is a transfer to Environment and Climate Change Canada. I'm wondering if that's to do with the woodland caribou we're covering.