Environment Committee on May 12th, 2021

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Yes, and I appreciate the answer.

I asked that question in part because it sometimes helps to translate these figures into what types of results these investments are generating for the environment and for taxpayers.

I have only about 30 seconds left, if I'm not mistaken, so I'll leave it at that. I'll just say thank you all very much for being here. I've learned a lot here today from all of you. I wish we had more time for questions, but I appreciate that answer in just helping to clarify where the funds are being allocated and how they help us fight climate change and protect our environment.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

It's Ms. McLeod now.

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

Thank you, Chair. We're on track again.

I'm going to go back to the Kigali amendment and the Montreal protocol, because the minister said he'd have to ask the officials, and, of course, the officials are here. Hopefully we can get a little more information.

My first question is, did any of the other countries that ratified this agreement grant exemptions?

[Christine Hogan]

I'd like to ask John Moffet, who is the assistant deputy minister for the environmental protection branch, to respond to that question.

[John Moffet, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment]

The time-limit exemptions the regulations provide for don't address emissions of substances covered by the Kigali amendment. We have not exempted anything related to Kigali. The exemptions relate to emissions of substances not regulated under Kigali.

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

I understand the government is being taken to court. If our commitment to massively scale down the emissions is not related to the Kigali amendment or our commitment to the reduction of HFCs, why did we have a bunch of companies, especially international companies, comply, which are now taking Canada to court?

[John Moffet]

It would be inappropriate to speculate about why a particular company has decided to initiate a court action, but I would say that the actions do not allege that Canada has done anything inappropriate with respect to adherence to international obligations. The allegations relate to the competitive disadvantage that certain companies allege they have received.

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

We have some regulatory requirements that were set out for some companies to meet. Some companies have met these regulatory requirements. I understand that these regulatory requirements were indeed to meet some of our obligations, but you have just indicated otherwise.

How many companies applied for exemptions in terms of meeting these regulatory requirements, and how many were granted exemptions?

[John Moffet]

I don't have the precise number, but we have had numerous applications—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Excuse me.

Madame Pauzé, is that a point of order?

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Things seemed to be going better, but on several occasions when Mr. Moffet was answering the question, the interpreter had to say that the poor sound quality meant that the comments could not be translated.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay. Is that because the volume was not high enough?

Mr. Moffet, do you have a mike?

[John Moffet]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Perhaps things have to be replaced.

You can continue.

[John Moffet]

The regulations apply to numerous types of producers and products. We have received a number of applications for time-limited essential-use exemptions. We have not acceded or granted all of those. We continue to receive applications. We address each one on a case-by-case basis, applying the criteria that are established in the regulations for granting those time-limited exemptions.

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

Are you saying that the regulations that were put in place were not in order for us to meet our commitments under the Kigali amendment? Is that what you're telling me?

[John Moffet]

I'm saying that these particular products that you are referring to, and the emissions associated with those products, are over and above the commitments we made in the Kigali amendment.

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

It's essentially the release of HFCs into the environment. I mean, is this not mincing words, in a way? We have some regulations in place in terms of commitments that we've made. We have the broad commitments. I'm hearing that it's technically possible to meet the regulatory environment that we created. We have a goal.

This is certainly very puzzling in terms of what I'm hearing from you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Unfortunately, we don't have time to pursue this, unless it comes up again.

We'll go to Ms. Saks now.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks again to all the officials who are with us today. These are such important questions and terrific answers.

I'd like to circle back to our relationship with first nations. They are the gatekeepers and are the most knowledgeable about our environment and the landscape we live on and with.

ECCC's 2021-22 departmental plan speaks about collaborating with provincial and territorial governments and indigenous partners. Could any of the officials describe the collaborative approaches being taken to work with our indigenous partners? How has the pandemic affected ECCC's working relationship with its partners, particularly the indigenous ones?

[Christine Hogan]

It's a very important question.

Before I ask Tara Shannon to comment on this, I will mention the very important role of our indigenous partnerships. There are a couple of examples to point to. One, of course, is the agreement concluded last calendar year with first nations in British Columbia related to the southern mountain caribou. There was a recognition, of course, of the importance of their role in the protection of the species.

As well, a very important feature of our work on the nature agenda is related to what we call the indigenous guardians program.

Maybe I'll ask Tara Shannon to elaborate a bit further.

[Tara Shannon]

I was indeed going to highlight the indigenous guardians program. It's been a pilot project, and it was recently re-endorsed through budget 2021. Through that program we provide funding to indigenous communities to support us in our work around both habitat restoration and conservation efforts. The program has been quite successful. It's a program whereby we co-develop funding approaches with our partners and really design the projects and their implementation together. I think it's been seen as a model. We are really pleased to be continuing to advance the work.

I would also just say that on the conserved areas themselves, the indigenous communities have played a very large role in achieving the advancements we have achieved to date. I know my colleagues from Parks Canada could also elaborate.

I'll leave it there.

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Thank you so much.

I'm going to shift this a bit in a direction that's often of interest for each and every one of us as we wake up in the morning and check our weather app.

The main estimates include $67.7 million in capital expenditures in predicting weather and environmental conditions. The work is essential for all Canadians, whether they are fishers, urban dwellers, hikers, farmers, or anyone really just trying to manage their day. The WeatherCAN app is a great and accessible tool.

Can one of the officials please explain what programs and initiatives the capital spending is meant for? I would like to follow up now, so I can get it all in.

How do these investments in predicting weather and environmental conditions account for the effects on climate change?

[Christine Hogan]

I'm very happy to have a question relating to our meteorological service, because I would highlight that this year, about 10 days ago, the Meteorological Service of Canada celebrated its 150th anniversary. It's an incredible institution.

I'm very proud of the fact that the men and women who have been leading our weather prediction and forecasting services in particular have worked day in and day out throughout the pandemic to continue to deliver these services to Canadians.

There are two elements I would highlight that you are referencing in the main estimates on the capital side.

First is the $32.8-million Canadian weather radar replacement project. This is, of course, important to modernize the network of weather radars that exist across Canada and across our landscape from coast to coast to coast.

There's also a capital investment highlighted in these main estimates for the Eureka weather station in Nunavut, in the high Arctic. We will be making very important and timely investments in infrastructure, in everything from runways to sewage systems, storage tanks and the like.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Actually, I can see the Canadian Meteorological Service from my window. I had a great tour last year. It was fantastic and really amazing.

Madam Pauzé, you are next.