Evidence of meeting #5 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 plan.
A video is available from Parliament.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Services, Department of the Environment
Not within Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
With all my time-stopping, Mr. Albas, your time is up.
I'll now go to Mr. Schiefke for five minutes.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Madam Chair, I'd like to thank all the witnesses for being here today.
When our government took office, less than 1% of our coastline was protected. Today, that number stands at nearly 15%—a tremendous improvement in very little time.
Thanks to a partnership between our government, Nature-Action Québec and the City of Rigaud, in my riding of Vaudreuil—Soulanges, we recently announced an initiative to protect 63 hectares of Rigaud Mountain.
In the main estimates, Environment and Climate Change Canada is seeking $319 million for nature conservation, an increase of around 7% over last year's main estimates.
Can you tell us how that additional money will help our government continue to advance nature conservation across the country and ensure a healthy future for generations to come?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Services, Department of the Environment
My name is Niall O'Dea, and I am the assistant deputy minister of the Canadian wildlife service.
The expenditure is certainly tied to our 2018 investment of $1.3 billion and will help us make great strides in our efforts to protect biodiversity all over the country.
As far as species at risk go, we are seeing significant progress in the protection of priority species such as caribou. We have seven conservation agreements with our provincial counterparts and three with our first nations partners. We have agreements covering 11 priority places in the country, and we are seeing major progress thanks to collaborative planning to protect species at risk in urban interface zones.
We have also seen considerable improvement when it comes to protected areas. We are aiming to have 16.6% of our land mass protected by 2023, in co-operation with first nations, the provinces and territories, and other partners. That is equivalent to increasing protected areas by three Nova Scotias—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Mr. O'Dea, could you hold your microphone closer to your mouth, please? The interpreters are sending a note.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Services, Department of the Environment
My apologies.
Yes, I certainly will, but that was the end of my answer.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Thank you.
The next question I have is for Parks Canada representatives.
The agency was to lead the Government of Canada's preparation for the 2020 International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the congress has been postponed, unfortunately, until an undetermined date. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected international co-operation on the conservation of nature?
Darlene Upton Vice-President, Protected Areas Establishment and Conservation, Parks Canada Agency
Thanks for the question. I'm the vice-president of protected areas establishment and conservation with Parks Canada. I can start, and perhaps my colleagues might have something to add as well.
A few things are happening now. A number of conferences have been postponed. The World Conservation Congress has been postponed twice, and we're waiting for rescheduling. Additionally, the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress has also been postponed until June 2022. However, a number of elements are going on online.
Recently, Canada voted on over 100 motions related to the World Conservation Congress. That coordination, both domestically and internationally, feeding into that process, along with conversations and a transition to a more virtual...are allowing a lot of international discussions to continue. Again, despite the pandemic, we have a number of agreements with other countries, such as Mexico and the U.S., and the work under those agreements continues.
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
Thank you.
Madam Chair, how much time do I have left?
Liberal
Peter Schiefke Liberal Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
I guess I'll just use my time to thank the witnesses again for being here and for providing their responses and their expertise, and thank them for the incredible work they're doing on a multitude of very important files for Canadians.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you.
Mr. Savard-Tremblay, you may go ahead. You have two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Good afternoon.
Thank you for being here to answer our questions.
My first question is about numbers, since one of today's dominant issues is obviously greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions have been on the rise since 1990. Back then, we were at 602 megatonnes. In 2017, the last year for which calculations are available, emissions stood at 716 megatonnes. Do you have more recent numbers?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
May I make a request, please? Respond quickly because their time is very precious. I clock them off, but I've stopped the clock.
Thank you.
Matt Jones Assistant Deputy Minister, Pan-Canadian Framework Implementation Office, Department of the Environment
I will simply note that the greenhouse gas inventory that counts emissions has historically been produced and submitted to the United Nations every year and is made available on our website. Emissions projections based on federal, provincial and territorial measures are also conducted on an annual basis, and those emissions are projected to decrease significantly, but as the minister has noted, there is a remaining gap of about 77 megatonnes based on our most recent projections.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
One of the reasons why it seemed as though emissions were decreasing is that the base year was changed as time went on.
Nevertheless, I will move on to another topic, electrification. As you know, it is doubly important. It is important environmentally, and for Quebec, it is extremely important economically. In terms of the newly announced funding for electric vehicles, does the department plan to enhance what the transportation sector will be offering when it comes to purchase incentives?
Helen Ryan Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
Sorry. Can you hear me? I was having an issue with my microphone.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Branch, Department of the Environment
Thank you for your question about incentives for the purchase of low-emission vehicles.
As you saw, the government allocated funding in the previous budget for the purchase of these vehicles and for infrastructure. The funding is significant and supports much of our efforts to increase the number of low-emission vehicles.
Bloc
Liberal
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The departmental results report shows that the ECCC target of 21% improvement in emissions from light-duty vehicles wasn't met, and that there was only about a 16% improvement. The clean fuel standard that folks have been talking about is a key part of the pan-Canadian framework on climate change. It has been delayed and back-end-loaded in terms of the reduction standards.
How does ECCC or this government really expect to meet the emissions reduction targets without putting these strong standards in place in the near term?