Environment Committee on Oct. 26th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Answer fairly briefly, please, if you could.

[Greg Carreau]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Give a fairly brief answer, please.

[Greg Carreau]

Sorry. Yes.

Health Canada, through its drinking water quality guidelines, as well as the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, does provide concentration limits that would be harmful to human health. It provides that context between measurable levels and levels that have been identified as a potential health risk.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

Before turning the floor over to Mr. Ali, I would like to assure you that tests were conducted with him and determined that the sound quality was acceptable for the interpreters. I wanted to make that clear. In fact, I should do so at the beginning of every meeting, as Ms. Pauzé did well to remind me.

Mr. Ali, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to all of the officials for being here today.

My question is for Global Affairs Canada.

What is Canada's position on the international human right to water? How has this position evolved? What is Canada doing to implement that right abroad?

[Niall Cronin]

One moment, Mr. Chair. I'll just check my notes. I was briefed by colleagues who work in the human rights division before coming.

Mr. Chair, Canada recognizes the human right of everyone to safe drinking water and basic sanitation as essential to the right to an adequate standard of living, and therefore implicit under Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Canada interprets the right to safe drinking water and basic sanitation as the right to a sufficient quantity and safe quality of reasonably affordable and accessible water for personal and domestic uses.

Water and sanitation services should be physically and economically accessible on an equal and non-discriminatory basis.

Canada recognizes that a lack of water, sanitation and hygiene affects women disproportionately, as they often have the primary responsibility to collect and manage water resources.

Canada works through multilateral fora like the Group of Friends of Water at the UN and also through the G20 to advance this right.

Thank you.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Can I just...? I'll stop your time.

I don't know if that really answered the question. It was valuable information, but I think what Mr. Ali was asking about—and correct me if I'm wrong—is the evolution of Canada's position on the international human right to water, because for a while, it didn't recognize that right at the UN but then changed its position, and so on.

However, I understand that you might not have that information on hand, so I would ask that the department submit a briefing note on the evolution of Canada's position on this issue and the reasons that it changed at one point. I would just request that this information be submitted in writing.

You made an interesting point about how ensuring that the human right to water, or water security, dovetails with Canada's feminist foreign policy. That's why I've always thought that if we could create a foreign policy pillar for water, it would be very consistent with the feminist component in our global foreign policy.

I'm sorry to interrupt. I couldn't help myself, Mr. Ali, but I didn't take any time away from you.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Chair, I think you have explained it very well. That's exactly what I was looking for.

My other question is again to Global Affairs Canada. How does the department engage with the international community on the issue of freshwater security? Does the department work bilaterally with other nations on freshwater issues? Please provide specific examples.

[Niall Cronin]

Certainly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To the first point about the evolution of Canada's position, I can certainly take that back, but I really do want to, if I may, with respect, manage the committee's expectations. We're certainly in a position to talk about our position today and what we're advancing, rather than debating previous policy positions the government took.

To the question of how Canada works bilaterally and multilaterally with other states on freshwater issues, I can certainly speak to our experience with the United States, the close collaboration we have with the State Department and our engagement with the International Joint Commission. I think the International Joint Commission has been recognized as a world model for how two nations can effectively manage transboundary water issues.

I mentioned the UN Group of Friends of Water. There was also the UN Water Conference last March, where Canada played a prominent role. Also, the IJC commissioners participated in that conference, which was another great way to show the world the strength of the Canada-U.S. relationship and the model that, in some areas, can serve for other countries.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Again to Global Affairs, how does the department monitor actual and potential situations of international conflict around access to fresh water?

[Niall Cronin]

I think the issue of global conflict is certainly front and centre in all of our minds. Certainly at the department, we've played an active role, whether it's looking at issues related to the war in Ukraine or the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Across the department, through our numerous geographic bureaus and through our network of embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world, we're very alive to the potential for conflict and certainly report back through headquarters and across the interdepartmental community when issues arise that need to be flagged.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

I would like to underscore, though, Mr. Cronin, that this committee sent out requests to a whole slew of departments about 18 months ago, asking for written briefs in answer to some very specific questions. We never received anything from Global Affairs. There was a reminder sent as well. Twice we contacted Global Affairs for somewhat of a robust brief in advance of this study. I just wanted to underscore that.

I'm not imputing blame to anyone, but it is frustrating for the committee. I don't think Global Affairs was the only department, but most of the departments did accede to our request.

We'll go now to Madam Pauzé.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Chair, I want to request that they send a detailed response to this third question. It was more a general response than a specific one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That is noted.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

I would appreciate that. Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

Ms. Pauzé, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

How much time do I have, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I'm sorry, I made a mistake. You have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

It was too good to be true.

I'm going to come back to the issue of pesticides.

According to what is reported in a document prepared by the Library of Parliament, Health Canada will continue to develop a “framework that will support the design and implementation of a national program to monitor pesticide levels in Canada's lakes, rivers and groundwater.”

You are currently working on the development of this framework. I'm concerned about who is being consulted in the preparation of this framework. Is PMRA being consulted? It must be said that this agency is known for always listening to industry and raising the permitted thresholds for pesticides and insecticides. We also know that an expert from this agency even resigned this summer.

Who are you consulting to develop this framework?

[Greg Carreau]

Thank you for the question.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has a strong role in regulating pesticides in Canada and collaborates very closely with non-governmental organizations, academics and the public. More recently, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency has announced an initiative to transform the agency to ensure that the agency undertakes its regulatory authorities in a robust and comprehensive way and has sought feedback from the public, as well as other government departments, municipalities and different levels of government, to inform the efforts around transforming the agency and ensuring strong regulatory oversight of pesticides in Canada.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Do I understand that you're going to be tougher on the agency, which reports to your ministry? I hope so.

Earlier, it was said that the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Department of Health intended to participate in the mission to protect riparian buffers and watersheds in agricultural areas, and that the Canada Water Agency would also play a role.

Can you tell me what budget is allocated to the Canada Water Agency for this mission?

[Kevin Norris]

I can't comment on the budget for the water agency. I will have to defer to ECCC on that, as they're the lead for the federal government.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Carreau, do you have an answer to my question?