Environment Committee on Dec. 2nd, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We have to go to Mr. Leslie now. I'm sorry.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ambassador, I'd like to start with the international shipping industry.

Minister Guilbeault was quoted in the Toronto Star recently as saying that he was very supportive of the new proposed global carbon tax on international shipping. When he came to committee last week, he kind of pretended that he'd never said those words before.

I'm curious. Have you in your capacity been involved in any conversations with anybody within the government or the international community about this new global carbon tax on international shipping?

[Catherine Stewart]

The Department of Transport manages our participation in negotiations at the IMO, the International Maritime Organization. I think they would be better placed to answer that question. I'm happy to follow up with more information on that.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Go ahead, Mr. van Koeverden, on your point of order.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I'd like to provide Mr. Leslie the opportunity to correct the record on this misquote of the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Which aspect is that?

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

How's that a point of order?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It's a point of debate.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

We can't be misquoting ministers in the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It's not a good practice. There should be corrections made. We'll have to wait until the Liberals' turn to correct the record. It's noted that you feel that the quote was not accurate.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I have a point of order.

I'd like to table a document from the Toronto Star that's titled, “Trudeau government backs talks for a levy on shipping to help developing nations fight climate change”. In the byline, it says, “Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the federal government is 'very supportive' of talks to create a new levy on greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transportation”.

I would like to table that with unanimous consent, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I know people rise in the House and ask to table things. In committee, is there such a procedure as tabling documents?

You can send it to the clerk, and the clerk can get it translated and distributed.

Now we're going to continue.

You have three minutes left, Mr. Leslie.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Might I respond to that, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

No, I'm afraid you can't, Mr. van Koeverden.

We'll go to Mr. Leslie for three more minutes.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Ambassador, in your capacity—and I appreciate that Transport Canada may be the lead through the International Maritime Organization—on the sidelines of perhaps the recent COP or any other conversations you've had, has this ever come up?

[Catherine Stewart]

Reducing emissions—

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'm sorry; I have a point of order.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

My colleague Mr. Leslie asked if he could table a document—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

He asked if he could table a document with the committee, but I told him that, to do so, it must first be translated into both official languages. If he wants to share that with the committee, he'd have to send it to the clerk, who would be happy to—

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

He did that before the point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

—have the document translated and sent to all members.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Okay.

With regard to this point of order for which we've asked to table documents, I'd also ask that we table the analysis of 300 economists for whom carbon pricing is the best way to transition to a low-carbon economy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

If you want to table that document, we'll distribute it.