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.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
The focus for us is essentially moving forward in the very near term. You will see some action on these fronts soon.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
In terms of the plan for exceeding our climate targets and having a plan for 2030, the word “immediately” was used. Will that be coming in the next few weeks, the next few months...?
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
I think you should stay tuned. I anticipate we will be bringing forward some things to talk to Canadians about soon.
4:45 p.m.
NDP
Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC
That is not really an answer, but....
The committee, as I mentioned, has heard that we're not on track to meet our target of selling 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2040. According to Transport Canada, we're on track to get to 4% to 6% by 2025, well short of the 10% target. It's about half. We're on track to get to 5% to 10% by 2030, again well short of the 2030 target, which is 30%. That's a third to a sixth of the targets.
I'm curious to know the minister's response on how we're going to get back on track with these targets for zero-emission vehicles.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
You're correct in the sense that the sales of zero-emission vehicles across the country are probably not as rapid as we would like to see. We need to think about measures that we will put in place to accelerate those sales.
That's not true everywhere. Certainly in British Columbia, your home province and my home province, almost 10% of the new cars being sold are zero-emission electric vehicles.
Part of that is a function of the fact that the infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles in British Columbia is far better developed than it is in many parts of this country. Part of it is—
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
Thank you, Minister. I have to use your time wisely.
Are you there, Mr. Savard-Tremblay?
November 4th, 2020 / 4:45 p.m.
Bloc
4:45 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good afternoon, Minister. Thank you for your presentation. I would like to hear you on the Trans Mountain issue. We know that is a financial disaster that could have an environmental impact.
What is the level of political will to carry out this project? As you know, we are not especially attached to it.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Thank you for your question.
This project will create thousands of good jobs for the middle class and will open up new paths to indigenous economic prosperity. That is part of our green and fair transition to a zero net emission economy. We are convinced that the project is still a responsible investment and that it will generate a positive outcome for Canadians of today and tomorrow. Every dollar earned through this project will be invested in building a cleaner economy that will create jobs, attract investments and fuel our homes and businesses in the years to come.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
I understand that it is always a matter of following a logic whereby we don't really want to get rid of oil. That is somewhat in line with what we were being told a year and a half ago, during the election campaign—not to worry about the pipeline because trees would be planted.
We will need to have a real will to transition. I understand that we are talking about transition, and not about stopping oil development overnight. That is not the issue. We want to know when a real transition plan will be presented to aspire to true electrification and true carbon neutrality.
In other words, as the saying goes, when will the government walk the talk?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Thank you.
I agree with my colleague's last sentence. It is essential for us to have a transition plan to reach our objectives by 2030, but also to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In the short term, we will come up with a plan to reach those objectives by 2030 and present a piece of legislation related to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Of course, we have to have a plan, and we do have one.
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
4:50 p.m.
Bloc
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Yasmin Ratansi
We'll now go to Mr. Jeneroux.
You're sharing your time with Mr. Godin, yes?
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
I am.
Minister, it's good to see you again.
Has your government conducted an analysis on job losses or job growth due to the clean fuel standards?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
I think it's important to think about what the clean fuel standard is. It's about reducing the carbon content of our fuels, creating opportunities for farmers and companies to produce renewable fuels and encouraging investment in energy efficiency to save Canadians money.
To your question, as we bring forward the clean fuel standard to CGI, Canada Gazette part I, we certainly will be providing a detailed cost-benefit analysis.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
You haven't done it up to this date, though. Am I correct in saying that?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
As I say, as we move forward to CGI—and we said that will happen this fall—we will be providing a detailed cost-benefit analysis.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
In your announcement on September 11, 2020, you said, “It will create jobs in farming, clean tech and zero-emissions vehicles."
Can you not tell us right now how the clean fuel standards will do that?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
It's going to drive demand for biofuels, just like the renewable fuel standard does. It's going to incent investments in energy efficiency, in carbon capture and in sequestration in a whole range of different technologies. It's going to boost the clean technology sector. It will incent deployment of electric vehicles, and you will see that when it's out for public comment.
It absolutely is the key driver for economic development and green economic development going forward.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
I hear that, Minister, and you can say that. However, how come you can't give us the exact number of job projections that this will create, either job growth or job losses?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal North Vancouver, BC
As I say, we are going to be bringing this forward to CGI in the near term, and you will see a detailed cost-benefit analysis. Stay tuned.