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.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Okay.
Mr. Wolfish's connection isn't working. I don't think we can go back to Mr. Wolfish.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
I'll start from the top again, then, sir.
Harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie were much larger than experts predicted this last year. A recent report by York University noted that more algae blooms are likely in Lake Erie.
What is the government doing about this?
11:40 a.m.
Joanne Volk Director General, Water Science and Technology, Department of the Environment
Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chair and members.
At Environment and Climate Change Canada, I'm the director general for water science and technology.
As my colleague, Daniel, mentioned, we are undertaking a number of ecosystem initiatives—including in the Great Lakes Basin and including in Lake Erie, specifically—to address algae blooms.
I can point to action that the government took in 2016 to sign a binational reduction of phosphorus in Lake Erie with the United States government. We're currently monitoring, on an annual basis, the amount of phosphorus flowing into the lake and into the basin, to know if it's in line with the targets that we predicted in our ability to manage phosphorus.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Director General, Water Science and Technology, Department of the Environment
I'm happy to follow up for members and provide information that is available to you.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all the officials for joining us today and for their speeches if they were able to give one earlier. I appreciate all of your insight and all of your hard work in protecting Canada's greatest natural asset, which is not just my opinion but something that I believe we all have to recognize. We're unique in the world, as a country, to be the stewards of so much of a vital resource that the world depends on. We're sort of like guardians in that regard.
I'm fortunate enough to have spent a lot of time out on the water in Canada, as I paddled a kayak for Canada for many years. I guess that helped deepen my profound appreciation for how our built environment can have an impact on the clean water resources that the country relies on.
This study is really important to my community. It's part of the Lake Ontario watershed. I was part of the group that advocated for more money for the Great Lakes in the previous budget, and I was really proud to see an incremental $650-million allocation for Great Lakes restoration, for the elimination of invasive species, and for the protection of that most vital natural resource.
I have a very basic question for anybody who would like to add a little insight.
We're starting this freshwater study. It's going to be rather lengthy, which I think is important given how enormous our country is and what an incredible privilege and obligation Canada has to protect this natural resource.
What can we all learn about the federal obligations of the Government of Canada with respect to protecting our environment? What can we know a little more about with respect to jurisdiction and our abilities to protect this most vital resource?
My question is for anybody, as it's very general.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
I'll just ask if you can add some specific threats to fresh water, perhaps the most significant threats to fresh water from your departments' perspectives.
What is putting our freshwater system in peril, if anything, and how can we act and legislate to protect those things from happening?
11:45 a.m.
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Canada Water Agency, Department of the Environment
I could jump in to start, but I'm worried that you can't properly hear me because of the interpretation.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I don't think so. What do you say, Ms. Pauzé?
No, we're getting thumbs down on that.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
I'd like us to see why we can't hear him very well. I was looking at the screen with my colleagues, and the connection seemed good when Mr. Wolfish appeared on it, but the interpreters tell us it isn't. I wonder if they're on another channel.
Is it a hardware problem? Would it be possible to do some tests to check it? I'd really like to know why we have good reception but not our interpreters.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Wolfish, apparently your phone is off and we're trying to reach you.
That might help, because the technician's trying to reach you and maybe he can solve the problem.
11:45 a.m.
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Canada Water Agency, Department of the Environment
I was turning my phone off so I would not be disturbed, but I have the number here and I can call the technician.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
They'll call you I think. They're trying to call you.
Would anyone here at the table like to answer Mr. van Koeverden's question?
11:45 a.m.
David Harper Director General, Monitoring and Data Services Directorate, Department of the Environment
I can start, Chair. Thank you.
Certainly, as we try to manage water, climate change is putting increased stress on our water resources. There's increasing variability in the water cycle. It's inducing a greater number of extreme weather events and reducing the predictability of water availability, which, in turn, can affect sustainable development, biodiversity and the enjoyment of water by humans.
That's our main concern.
11:45 a.m.
Director General, Ecosystems Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
We all have an important role to play, and, as you heard from the opening remarks, we all have our distinct mandates. Within that, I think we need continued co-operation and collaboration across all federal departments on the multiple threats—and I think there are many threats.
My colleague mentioned climate change, aquatic invasive species and multiple stressors, so there are cumulative effects of multiple stresses coming in all at once. I think nutrients are another big threat that has been identified, so there are many, but I think there are also opportunities to combat those threats.
Thank you.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Could you elaborate on nutrients? I don't know if everybody's aware of what that means.
11:50 a.m.
Director General, Ecosystems Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
I think it's nutrients that are flowing into water, so often land-based nutrients.
I would turn to my colleague in the Ontario and Prairies region. I don't want to forget about her. I think she also could elaborate more fully.
11:50 a.m.
Hilary Oakman
Thank you.
From a DFO perspective, while we don't manage nutrients coming into the water, we are actively working and doing some science to understand what that impact might be on fish and fish habitat.