Environment Committee on Oct. 26th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

You have 30 seconds, Mr. Longfield, if you want to give it to—

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you.

To Natural Resources, we've been working with the Ivy network in Ontario to get charging stations around the province to try to stimulate EV use and take that barrier away from its use. Could you talk about the progress of that system, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Unfortunately, that will have to be in the next round.

We now go to Madame Pauzé.

You have the floor for six minutes, Ms. Pauzé.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Vieira, in your brief, you talk a lot about range anxiety, but I'm inclined to point out that, first, there have to be vehicles. Has your department considered adopting a policy along the lines of a zero-emission mandate to address the supply problem?

Bear in mind that, like British Columbia and Quebec, 10 U.S. states, including California, have such mandates and all of those states and provinces have a supply of vehicles.

Has your department examined that option?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Pauzé, are you having trouble with your mike?

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I asked a question. Did it not come through?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay, I'll stop the clock for a minute.

Madame Pauzé, could you please speak into the mike.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I'll start over.

My question is for Ms. Vieira. In her brief, she talks a lot about range anxiety. What came to mind when I read that was the importance of having a supply of vehicles, first. I would point out that, like British Columbia and Quebec, 10 U.S. states, including California, have zero-emission mandates and all of those states and provinces have a supply of vehicles.

Has your department considered the possibility of adopting a zero-emission mandate to address the supply problem?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Vieira.

[Paula Vieira]

Yes, as has been noted, we're looking at all instruments to increase the deployment of electric vehicles in Canada. We're looking at—

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Sorry to cut you off, but the interpreter is signalling that Ms. Vieira's microphone is too far from her mouth this time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Ms. Vieira, you need to move the microphone away from your mouth.

[Paula Vieira]

Is this better? Okay.

We are looking at all measures: regulatory measures, and whether those are existing emission standards, mandates and incentives. We're looking at all instruments to see how we can increase supply—

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Yes, Mr. Godin?

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

The problem isn't that her microphone is too close; the problem is that it's too far this time. According to the interpreter, she needs to bring it closer to her mouth.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

All of us have these mikes, so we don't get into trouble. Try keeping it at a distance. Let's test your mike. I've stopped your time, so give it a try.

Mr. Godin and Ms. Pauzé, please let me know whether the interpretation is coming through or not.

You can go ahead, Ms. Vieira.

[Paula Vieira]

I apologize. We did test it, and everything was working fine. Is that better?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mrs. Vieira, yes, please continue.

[Paula Vieira]

Thank you. We are looking at all measures, including regulatory measures, to ensure that we're supporting the entire value chain. What can increase supply? What can increase consumers' adoption? What are the enabling measures like infrastructure? We are looking at what combination of instruments it will take to increase deployment of EVs in Canada.

So yes, we are looking at all instruments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Ms. Pauzé, did you have another question?

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Yes, Madam Chair.

My question is for Helen Ryan. According to her brief, Environment and Climate Change Canada has legislative authority under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Before that, she mentions heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles.

Has the department explored policy options to deal with this specific issue? After all, the department has legislative authority to regulate light-duty, heavy-duty and off-road vehicles.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Ryan, go ahead.

[Helen Ryan]

Thank you for your question.

As I mentioned in the brief, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, we also have regulations to control greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles.

For light-duty vehicles, our standards are based on the performance of vehicle fleets, and there are incentives for electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and hydrogen vehicles. Automakers have to meet certain standards, and one way to do that is to supply zero-emission vehicles.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Coming back to the greenhouse gas emission regulations, I'd like to draw your attention to a study conducted by British Columbian John Axsen. He uses modelling to determine the failure or success rate in relation to the federal targets. The greenhouse gas emissions regulations alone won't ensure the targets are met.

Do you recognize that, in order to tackle climate change, the government needs to incentivize automakers to adapt and transition quickly?