Environment Committee on March 27th, 2023

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

I would now like to address the other subject, the use of the plane by the Prime Minister.

I want to be quite clear: it is entirely to be expected that the Prime Minister will travel from one end of Canada to the other to go out and meet Canadians. That is his job, and that is fine.

However, there are some very debatable ways of doing things, like return trips between Montreal and Ottawa by plane. It's a 22‑minute flight. We think that is not the right thing to do, particularly when someone spends his time saying we have to reduce our footprint and climate change is important.

As the Prime Minister rightly said at the Montreal conference, we choose to take the fight against climate change seriously. However, when you take a plane for a 22‑minute flight, that isn't taking it seriously. On the contrary; it is taking people for fools.

You don't have to comment on what I have said, but I want to ask you a question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We're out of time on this, Mr. Deltell.

Go ahead on a point of order, Mr. Duguid.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Chair, that is a political question that was addressed by the minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It does not have to be addressed, because time is up.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

That is exactly what I said.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Weiler, you're batting cleanup today. You have five minutes.

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, but it's actually Ms. Taylor Roy who's next.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. Taylor Roy, please go ahead.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

I would like to ask some questions about Parks Canada, and in particular the progress we've been making with Parks Canada to try to hit our ambitious goals of 25% by 2025 and 30% by 2030.

Can you talk about how Parks Canada is helping with that initiative?

[Catherine Blanchard]

In terms of Parks Canada's contribution to the 25% by 2025, we're doing it in two ways. One is on our territorial land-based commitments, where we are moving towards the creation of 10 national parks, 10 national urban parks and 10 national marine conservation areas on the water side. Those are progressing very well within the agency and will increase our contribution to the 25% by 2025 and the 30% by 2030.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

I saw there was an increase in funding for the Trans Canada Trail, something I'm very interested in, as well. How is that project going, and how close are we to completing the connections across the country?

[Catherine Blanchard]

Budget 2021 announced $55 million over five years for the expansion of the Trans Canada Trail. There are 27,000 kilometres of trails throughout many urban, rural and remote communities within Canada. We are progressing very well, flowing $11 million per year to the Trans Canada Trail association to create access routes from communities into the trail. Really, the focus is improving accessibility. About 80% of Canadians already live within 30 minutes of the trail, making it easier for them, including those with disabilities, to have direct access to the various routes of the Trans Canada Trail. It's going extremely well.

There's also some work going on in the Rouge National Urban Park. There was $2 million over two years announced for the Rouge. We're making great progress in connecting the Rouge National Urban Park to the Trans Canada Trail. It's been a really exciting project and one that's valued by Canadians.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

That's fantastic. I believe our chair has a question, so I'm going to give the remainder of my time to him.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Ms. Taylor Roy. I appreciate that.

Could you give us an update on where we are in terms of designating the monarch butterfly as an endangered species?

[Chris Forbes]

I don't have much to share with you. Obviously, that's something we'll have to come back to at a later date.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Would it be possible to send me an email or something on that?

[Chris Forbes]

I can have someone do that, for sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It's a big issue in my riding. There are the monarchs at the airport in Montreal. It's been recommended by COSEWIC that the butterfly be considered an endangered species. That was in 2016. I think now we're in consultations to somehow implement that recommendation. I'd be really interested in knowing where that's at. I thank you for that.

Do you have anything else, Ms. Taylor Roy? No?

Okay. I want to thank our witnesses for being here and speaking to the estimates.

We, as the committee, we have one more task to complete here before we break today.

We have to vote on the main estimates. We have a number of votes. We have votes 1, 5 and 10 under the Department of the Environment; votes 1 and 5 under the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada; and votes 1, 5 and 10 under Parks Canada.

Shall vote 1 under the Department of the Environment, less the amount in interim supply, carry?

[An hon. member]

On division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'm going to read the French.

ENVIRONMENT

Vote 1—Operating expenditures.......... $998,976,093

Vote 5—Capital expenditures.......... $100,902,516

Vote 10—Grants and contributions.......... $1,234,196,797

(Votes 1, 5 and 10 agreed to on division)

IMPACT ASSESSMENT AGENCY OF CANADA

Vote 1—Operating expenditures.......... $70,317,336

Vote 5—Grants and contributions.......... $21,453,336

(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)

PARKS CANADA AGENCY

Vote 1—Operating expenditures.......... $663,382,945

Vote 5—Capital expenditures.......... $331,076,015

Vote 10—Grants and contributions.......... $81,304,508

(Votes 1, 5 and 10 agreed to on division)

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Shall I report the votes on the main estimates, less the amounts voted in interim supply, to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, colleagues.

On Thursday we will discuss a sort of supplementary report concerning the subjects the government should be considering in the future. If we are concluding this discussion—which is not an easy thing, to me—we will continue with our consideration of the report on fossil fuel subsidies.

Have a good day, and we will see you during question period.

The meeting is adjourned.