Evidence of meeting #3 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
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?
Liberal
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.
Bloc
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?
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Okay, I'll stop the clock for a minute.
Madame Pauzé, could you please speak into the mike.
Bloc
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?
Executive Director, Fuel Diversification Division, Clean Fuels Branch, Department of Natural Resources
Yes, as has been noted, we're looking at all instruments to increase the deployment of electric vehicles in Canada. We're looking at—
Bloc
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.
Liberal
Executive Director, Fuel Diversification Division, Clean Fuels Branch, Department of Natural Resources
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—
Conservative
Conservative
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.
Liberal
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.
Executive Director, Fuel Diversification Division, Clean Fuels Branch, Department of Natural Resources
I apologize. We did test it, and everything was working fine. Is that better?
Executive Director, Fuel Diversification Division, Clean Fuels Branch, Department of Natural Resources
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.
Bloc
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.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
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.
Bloc
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?