Environment Committee on March 10th, 2021

[Raj Saini, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I'm also pleased to see the funding for the protection of caribou and other endangered species here in the supplementary (C)s. I know that here in Canada, many of our species at risk live along our southern border with the U.S. Now that our neighbours in the U.S. are newly engaged on the climate change file, what opportunities do we have to work with them to help protect those species at risk?

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

That is an area where I think great co-operation is possible. We've committed to 30 by 30 protection. With the Americans we've committed to species at risk protection. We've already seen them starting to move on the incidental take issue with the migratory birds treaty. We are working on the porcupine caribou herd in the north. We're also talking about ecological corridors, some of the ones where biodiversity moves back and forth across the border, like Yellowstone to Yukon, in the Appalachians, trying to ensure that we are providing protection that moves across the border in line with the movement of biodiversity rather than simply pretending that animals understand where the border exists.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Minister.

That brings our second round to a close. I know you had planned to be with us for one hour, and it's one hour and one minute. We thank you for making yourself available to answer a variety of questions from many members.

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you again, Minister.

Now we're going to go to a second hour with many new witnesses. As a matter of fact, there are so many new witnesses from—

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

He's welcome to stay, Mr. Chair, if he'd like.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I think he knows that. He knows we're a very welcoming committee. He had only slotted one hour because no doubt he had other matters waiting for him.

We have so many new witnesses. What do we do now, Madam Clerk?

Is everybody already on for the second hour, or do they need to join?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Isabelle Duford]

Everyone who is here is tested. They can turn on their cameras. We can continue with the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That's perfect.

I won't mention all the new witnesses who are here for the second hour, because if I did, we'd have little time for questions.

Thank you for being here, everyone from Environment Canada and Parks Canada.

We're going to start with Ms. McLeod for six minutes.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I'm actually going to pick up where the conversation left off. I think it's unfortunate that the minister did have to leave, because I think this is really some of the nuts and bolts of the supplementary estimates.

This is near and dear to my heart, but the biggest request in these supplementary (C)s was the $55.1 million for the conservation of the central group of southern mountain caribou in British Columbia.

The population is estimated to be about 230 caribou, so that's $55 million for the protection of about 230 caribou. Given the $55 million, can someone tell me what you project those herds to be over the next 10 years? By year 10, what do you anticipate this herd level to be?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I don't know who—

[Christine Hogan, Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment]

Hello, Mr. Chair. It's Christine Hogan here. I'm the deputy minister. I'm happy to help direct some of these questions as they come to us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That's excellent. Thank you.

[Christine Hogan]

I want to thank you very much for posing the question on the southern mountain caribou in British Columbia. It's an important area of focus for Environment and Climate Change Canada, and of course we made some important strides with a new agreement with British Columbia and first nations over the course of last year.

I'll direct this question to Niall O'Dea, who is our assistant deputy minister for the Canadian Wildlife Service.

[Niall O'Dea, Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment]

Thank you, deputy, and thank you, Chair.

In respect of the question posed, specific projections on the growth and population over the coming 10 years are difficult to make, but I can speak to some of the very specific measures that are being undertaken with these investments to support the recovery of this particular herd. In—

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

I'm sorry. I know my time is short. With so many officials and one introducing, it takes more time.

You don't have a projection for 10 years in terms of herd size. We have about 230 animals. We all agree that the southern caribou are important, so my next question is, within this agreement, how much of the money has been disbursed? Do you have a detailed plan that you can share with this committee in terms of the $55 million and where every dollar of that $55 million is going to go?

[Niall O'Dea]

I'm happy to speak to that.

We do have a specific plan in place. In respect of the allocations within these supplementary estimates, it's part of a total of $75.4 million over four years that will go into this agreement. Of that, $46.5 million is new funding from a recently approved TB submission that's reflected here, and $28.9 million is in existing ECCC funds, some from our nature legacy funding from 2018 and a further $1.6 million from permanent A-base funding.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Can you provide a line-by-line expenditure in terms of where those dollars are going? How much is going to a certain project? Is that available and can you share that with this committee?

[Niall O'Dea]

I'm happy to detail that. Forty-six million of that amount will go to the Province of B.C. to support land purchases, which represents a combination of the new funds identified in the supplementary estimates and existing nature legacy funding. Ten million will go to a community support trust to mitigate impacts to workers and communities, and B.C. will be responsible for appointing a trustee for that particular aspect. Five million will go to habitat restoration efforts, and a further $2.6 million to first nations for recovery measures.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Thank you.

The vast majority is going to land purchases. It sounds like you are looking at purchasing tenure from our forestry companies.

One of my concerns is that the province and the federal government had someone who was engaging, and I would say that government frequently engages, but they forget very critical players when they actually go into communities. I look at the Wet'suwet'en, where they forgot about talking to the hereditary chiefs. They look at the mountain caribou and neglect talking to mayors and forestry.

Yes, I recognize the importance of a nation-to-nation conversation, but on the neglect of the third party, do we have the mayors and the communities all on board with the plan?

[Niall O'Dea]

Yes, the framework of the partnership agreement that was arrived at between Canada, B.C. and the first nations provides for opportunities to discuss aspects of the implementation of the agreement with the broader stakeholder groups, including mayors and others.

As the planning work is advanced, with respect to both the direct conservation measures and efforts to secure critical habitat for the southern mountain caribou's recovery, there will be further opportunities for engagement with local communities, which are recognized to be important players in this particular conservation challenge.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Ms. McLeod. Your time is up.

We now go to Mr. Schiefke.

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I thank the witnesses for being with us this evening.

My first question is for the Parks Canada officials.

Nature conservation is one of the most important issues for people in my constituency of Vaudreuil—Soulanges. I see several items in the estimates along those lines, including Vote 1c, which provides $9.3 million for national park expansion and more.

Conservation not only helps to protect our ecosystems and halt the loss of biodiversity, it also brings people closer to nature, something that has become increasingly important since the pandemic began.

What role has Parks Canada played in achieving Canada's conservation targets of 17% for terrestrial species and 10% for marine environments by 2020?

Similarly, does Parks Canada play a significant role in achieving the ambitious targets of 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030?

[Ron Hallman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency]

Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Chair.

I'm Ron Hallman, the president and CEO of Parks Canada.

If I may, I'd like to introduce our vice-president of protected areas establishment and conservation, Darlene Upton, who could respond to the member's question.

[Darlene Upton, Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, Parks Canada Agency]

Thanks, Ron.

Parks Canada has made significant contributions to protected areas. In fact, we protect 3.53% of the 12.1% protected for terrestrial. That's the largest federal contribution—we make up 75% of the federal contribution—and the largest contribution of any organization. Similarly, on the marine side, we protect 2.12%, which is the second-largest contributor of marine protected areas. These are important contributions.

We have a number of projects under way that are new. They include two national parks, five national marine conservation areas and other expressed interests in future projects.

In addition, in terms of the species at risk, which was mentioned, we've made some significant gains. We protect 220 species at risk at Parks Canada. We've now developed 22 multi-species action plans, and we're on target for delivering our percentages related to actions. We invest about $2.5 million a year in specific projects for species at risk, and we have targets that we are on track to meet.

Thanks.