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
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
I said at the start of my question that it was for Clean Energy Canada.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
There's Helen Ryan from the Department of the Environment. There's the Department of Transport, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Industry. Which one do you want?
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
I'm sorry, but it was a report by Clean Energy Canada that I was referring to.
To Environment and Climate Change, I know this is a provincial program, but have we looked at provincial programs and how we might support them in taking vehicles off the road?
Liberal
Helen Ryan Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
There has been work done to look at programs such as B.C.'s SCRAP-IT. I'll turn to my colleague from Transport Canada for further information with respect to assessments around the SCRAP-IT program.
Director General, Environmental Policy, Department of Transport
We are aware of B.C.'s SCRAP-IT program and of the success it has had in removing older vehicles from the road. As I mentioned earlier, we are continuing to look at potential additional tools to help us meet our zero-emission-vehicle sales target. I know that my colleagues at Natural Resources Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development may have additional information on such a program that they may wish to share.
Paula Vieira Executive Director, Fuel Diversification Division, Clean Fuels Branch, Department of Natural Resources
Good afternoon, everyone.
This is one of the programs, one of the instruments that we have been looking at, to see how it can work together with the instruments and with the programming that is currently in place.
A SCRAP-IT program is used predominantly to accelerate fleet turnover. If that is the government's objective, to try to get consumers to make a purchase decision in advance of when they naturally would, then that instrument can be very effective. However, if what we're trying to do is simply to help incent ZEV purchases, then incentives are also very effective. It's really important to understand what the ultimate objective is. Is it to purchase more zero-emission vehicles or to accelerate the pace at which—
Conservative
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
The interpreter just signalled that she can't interpret what's being said because the department official doesn't have the right tools to communicate clearly. That's a breach of my parliamentary rights. I would like access to interpretation. Can we find a solution?
Liberal
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Alexandre Roger
Good afternoon, Ms. Vieira.
Could you just move your microphone a little farther? We're hearing popping sounds when you're speaking.
If you can just answer again, I think Mr. Godin will have the interpretation.
Executive Director, Fuel Diversification Division, Clean Fuels Branch, Department of Natural Resources
I apologize. Can we try that again? Is that better?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Mr. Godin, is that better? I see it is.
You may go ahead, Ms. Vieira.
Executive Director, Fuel Diversification Division, Clean Fuels Branch, Department of Natural Resources
As I previously noted, it is really important to understand the objective of the measures that we would put in place. Something like a SCRAP-IT program is very effective in accelerating fleet turnover. What that means is—
Conservative
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Madam Chair, I have a point of order.
The interpreters just signalled that the witness's microphone is too close to her mouth, so they can't hear what she's saying. Can she adjust it? I'd like to hear her explanation.
Liberal
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
I'd like to reset the clock a bit. I think I've lost about a minute and a half.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Thank you.
Thank you for your answers.
I'd like to go to Ms. Irwin from ISED.
Recently, there was the announcement about the Ford Motor Company producing EVs and batteries in Canada at Windsor and Oakville. Fiat Chrysler has an announcement on hybrid vehicles or EVs in Canada. One of the presentations showed the difficulty that dealerships in Canada have in obtaining EVs.
Could you comment on when these programs will roll out and whether that can help us get more EVs through the dealerships?
Sharon Irwin Senior Director, Industry Sector, Automotive, Transportation and Digital Technology Branch, Department of Industry
Thank you for your question, Mr. Longfield.
With respect to the Ford and recent Fiat Chrysler announcements on the investments they're making, as negotiations with the unions came to a close in the last few weeks, certainly I think there is one thing we have to keep in mind. Those decisions are very key to the transformation of the automotive sector and in helping Canada reach its overall goals with respect to reductions of GHG emissions. It's important to understand that those particular decisions do take some time to be realized. The time between when a decision is made and when a firm brings that particular transformation to either a production or manufacturing line usually has about a four- to five-year window; so, of course, there will be a bit of a lag until we have that full, easy production within Canada. Certainly, it's a significant development in terms the transformation and electrification of the sector in Canada.