Environment Committee on April 20th, 2023

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In a joint review for the Kearl mine, Imperial Oil stated that “it was confident that it would be able to achieve the reclamation timelines and milestones identified in the supplemental information it provided as part of its applications.” Are you still confident of that?

[Brad Corson]

Yes, we are. I think that the guideline provides 10 years, as I recall, after we cease operation with that particular pit, and we still feel comfortable with that.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

How much money has been allocated for that?

[Brad Corson]

Certainly we have allocated money, but I don't have that number available.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Would you say it's more or less than $17 million?

[Brad Corson]

I can't comment; I don't know.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much.

I would like to ask a last little question to get a bit more detail with regard to the seepage. My understanding is that you are speaking about the new interception wells and that they are not intercepting all of the seepage.

I believe, Mr. Younger, you spoke about this. They are new, they are working and they are working as to standard, but they are not intercepting all of the seepage. Seepage into treaty wetlands is still ongoing. Is that an accurate statement?

[Simon Younger]

We've had to do a multitude of different things to address the four isolated areas of seepage. Those have included very shallow trenching with well points and pumps to collect what the trenches gather. We've installed shallow well point systems.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

The question was this: Is seepage still going into Treaty No. 8 wetlands? Is that still ongoing?

[Simon Younger]

What I also said was that—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Was that a yes?

[Simon Younger]

—we now have pumping at all four locations, so the seepage is being mitigated at all four locations.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Is there no seepage, or is the seepage still ongoing in Treaty No. 8 wetlands?

[Simon Younger]

We've now intercepted all of the seepage. What I would say is that our extensive monitoring now needs to prove that to us.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

You can't confirm that because you still have not completed the monitoring. Is that correct?

[Simon Younger]

No, the monitoring is ongoing and continuous. As we move forward, we'll want to confirm that this remains the case.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Mr. Deltell, you have the floor.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Corson, Mr. Younger, and Ms. Shield, thank you for your testimony.

The fact that the head of Imperial Oil is with us today demonstrates the importance your company places on this tragedy, but also the importance of the major problems your company has generated. You have acknowledged your responsibilities very well and apologized. This is a step in the right direction.

Two days ago, you probably heard the testimony of the Aboriginal leaders who came to meet us. Their testimony was very touching, and for good reason. They were the first victims of this situation. The fact that you met with them and that you are here to answer questions from parliamentarians is also a step in the right direction.

However, you know better than anyone that, in order to rebuild credibility and trust, we need concrete actions and measures to ensure that First Nations are partners and not observers of the situation.

Since it is the people of Fort McMurray and the surrounding area who have suffered, I will turn it over to my colleague who represents them in the House.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Gérard.

I have some questions because, with trust, part of the issue has been where the accountability was. I have a question for you guys, and I'm hoping you'll be able to answer it: Has there been any internal disciplinary action taken as a direct result of the failures at Kearl Lake?

[Brad Corson]

Our focus to date has been solely on fixing and addressing the impact of the seepage and drainage overflow and on rebuilding trust with the communication processes. We haven't been focused on internal blame and responsibility. We are conducting our own internal investigations and we will deal with that appropriately. However, the focus has been very much on the external incident that has occurred and on making sure that it's our priority to address that.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

That's fair, and I appreciate hearing that. I think it's important to make sure that we're focusing on what happened and how to prevent it.

At some point, will there be conversations and space around internal discipline, because clearly there were multiple internal failures?

[Brad Corson]

Certainly there will be conversations. I can't comment or speculate on what the outcome of those conversations will be until we complete all of our internal processes, but those conversations will occur.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you for that.

The last question I have in the remaining time is whether you are bearing the cost of all of this engagement that you're having with the indigenous communities, and of the travel you said you've offered them through Kearl. Kearl is not an easy place to get to. Are you covering the cost?

[Brad Corson]

Yes. I might ask Helga to comment on that because it ties back to many of our agreements that are in place. Certainly we want to be supportive of the communities.