Evidence of meeting #79 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was freshwater.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
Under the current regulations that we have for waste-water effluent release—
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
No. This is just releases from waste-water treatment and municipal facilities.
Conservative
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
I'm sorry. Can you say that again?
Conservative
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
They can get an authorization, if they need to do construction, repairs or maintenance of their facilities, to bypass treatment for a short period of time. With that authorization, we can undertake an assessment to understand the impact on the receiving environment. That mitigation is in place to manage the receiving environment or the environmental impacts of that.
Those are the only conditions under which undertreated waste water can be released into receiving bodies.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
The answer to the question, then, is yes, you still authorize the dumping of sewage. That was the original question.
That's good. That's fine. Thank you.
How many litres of raw sewage have been dumped into Canadian waterways since 2015?
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
I'm not able to give you an accurate—
Conservative
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
I don't think I would even be able to hazard a guess on that, at this point in time.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Does anybody have any idea? Can you table those numbers?
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
We'd be happy to get back to you with some numbers on that.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
You just informed us that actually you have to authorize it, so you should monitor how much. It should be there. There should be some kind of information that the department would be aware of, and you can table that information to the committee. Is that correct?
Director General, Industrial Sectors and Chemicals Directorate, Department of the Environment
Absolutely.
October 24th, 2023 / 11:30 a.m.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thank you.
This is for anyone. The Supreme Court ruled that the government's Bill C-69 was unconstitutional because it interjected on provincial jurisdiction. Provinces are rightfully worried that opening the Canada Water Act will also intrude on their jurisdiction.
Did anyone here read the Supreme Court's decision, and can they share what they learned from it so that the government doesn't intrude on provincial jurisdiction again with the changes to the Water Act?
I'll start with ECCC.
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Canada Water Agency, Department of the Environment
I'll start with that answer. I'm Daniel Wolfish, and I am the acting assistant deputy minister for the Canada water agency. I'll note that the reference is being read and studied, and we are working with our colleagues across government around what the implications would mean.
The government has noted that we accept the court's opinion while affirming the right of the Government of Canada to put in place impact assessment legislation and to collaborate with the provinces on environmental protection. It's in that context that we want to work within the Canada water agency to respect provincial jurisdictions while continuing to facilitate coordination across the provinces and territories, with indigenous peoples and within the federal government.
The reference on the Impact Assessment Act does demonstrate the need to be respectful of the federal-provincial framework and the constitutional division of powers in the areas where jurisdictional coordination is needed, including in the management of freshwater.
Liberal
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
The interpreter can't work because the connection isn't good enough. Can we solve the problem?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Unfortunately, we don't have a very good connection, so we'll have to stop there, Mr. Wolfish. This is a very important issue for—
Conservative
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Canada Water Agency, Department of the Environment
Absolutely.
Liberal
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
I had some questions for Mr. Wolfish too. Could he get help from a technician to improve the connection?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
The request has been made. I've stopped the clock.
Would another departmental representative like to speak at this stage or should we move on to another question?