Evidence of meeting #85 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 point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Law Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, As an Individual
Can I ask you to clarify what you mean by “legislative tools”?
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
In fact, we believe the Canada Water Agency is too centralizing a body, having regard to the powers of Quebec and the provinces in relation to freshwater.
Law Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, As an Individual
From my point of view, creating the Canada Water Agency can be seen as a form of centralization, but in applying its policies and processes there should be a much more regional vision. At that point, we could have something that flows, if you will allow me another pun. This would need to be the case, that is, an agency that would get involved at the regional level in order to...
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Thank you, Mr. Lillo.
The issue is really whether it is a clearing house or a regulatory body. That's why we're seeing this dichotomy, if I understand the situation correctly.
Law Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal, As an Individual
I think they are not two contradictory things.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I do not think it is a regulatory agency; it is more of a clearing house.
We will now try one last time to give Mr. Zeman the floor.
Mr. Zeman, could you give it another try, a last try, and—
Executive Director, B.C. Wildlife Federation
I am. We can try again. We've been IT-ing, and everything seems to look good. They were telling me it should work.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Could you take a couple of minutes to finish your opening statement?
Executive Director, B.C. Wildlife Federation
Okay. We can continue on to questions if you want.
November 21st, 2023 / 11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Okay. Since you don't feel you need another two minutes to finish the opening statement, we can go to questions. I think Mr. Kram has some questions for you anyway.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Very good, Mr. Zeman. I'm glad that we have resolved these technical issues.
I understand that invasive species are a significant issue for Canadian fishers, especially in British Columbia. I was wondering if you could share your views on invasive species and how they are affecting what you do.
Executive Director, B.C. Wildlife Federation
Yes, certainly, and I'm sure Wyatt can speak to this as well.
In the case of invasive mussels, we're one of the few jurisdictions as it relates to invasive species and disease. British Columbia currently does not have chronic wasting disease in wildlife, and it currently does not have any quagga or zebra mussels. The threat in terms of the impact on fish and fisheries, water systems and infrastructure related to water is worth millions of dollars a year if the invasive species end up in British Columbia.
I think that this is one issue that has opened up a Pandora's box strategically. Instead of dealing with it federally at a local level when it first emerged, we kind of let things take place, and now in British Columbia we're doing our best to manage it, but certainly federal funding and dedicated funding is a big topic today. We need to be protecting our borders here in British Columbia to ensure that we don't end up with mussels. It kind of feels like it's just a matter of time here before we end up with a positive.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
The issue of invasive species was the subject of a report by the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development back in 2019. The report found that Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency had not taken the steps required to prevent invasive species from becoming established in Canada's waters, despite commitments to do so.
I was wondering if those findings match your experience in British Columbia. Are steps being taken to stop invasive species at the border? What has been done over the last four years to change this situation?
Executive Director, B.C. Wildlife Federation
As you would have heard from the Okanagan Basin Water Board, a lot of it in our world is really a matter of policing our borders and making sure that boats are clean before they enter British Columbia, and that's a funding issue.
Again, I'll go back to the watershed security fund that British Columbia has started on. They've come up with $100 million to start. That needs to be a $1 billion fund. I
n our neck of the woods, I guess the big thing out of the Government of Canada is going to be regulation and enforcement of that regulation, which is an ongoing challenge for us. The third piece is having dedicated funding so that we can go out and take care of our borders in relation to invasive species.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
That same report found that the government was not tracking which invasive species were of most concern. Based on your experience, what are the invasive species that are of most concern, from your perspective?
Executive Director, B.C. Wildlife Federation
As it relates to water, it's quagga and zebra mussels for sure. That's the one at the top of everyone's mind right now.
I would say there are other issues, such as invasive crabs in the ocean, but right now quagga and zebra mussels are what we live and breathe here every day.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Okay, very good. Thank you.
Mr. Chair, with my time remaining, I would like to hand it over to my colleague Dan Mazier.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thank you, Michael.
Mr. Chair, I move the following motion.
“That, pursuant to the Order of Reference”—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Mazier has the floor.
Then I have Mr. van Koeverden, Mr. Deltell and Ms. Taylor Roy.
Just a second; let me write this down. We're going to stop for a moment.
We have Mr. Mazier, Mr. van Koeverden, Mr. Deltell, Ms. Taylor Roy and Mr. Ali.
Mr. Mazier, go ahead.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Mr. Chair, I move the following motion:
That, pursuant to the Order of Reference of Thursday November 9th, 2023, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, appear before the Committee for no fewer than 2 hours to consider the Supplementary Estimates (B) before Friday, December 1st, 2023.
Mr. Chair, the minister needs to testify on the estimates that fund his failed policies—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Can I interrupt for a second to give some information to the committee? Then I'll let you go.
This Tuesday he couldn't come because of cabinet. Thursday he's going to the Senate committee. Next Tuesday is cabinet, and then he's off to COP28. He wants to come, but he won't be back in the country until December 15.
I just wanted to give you some background. It's not that he doesn't want to appear; it's a scheduling conflict.
Go ahead.
Conservative
Dan Mazier Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB
Thank you.
The minister does need to testify. We've asked for him to come here to testify basically on his failed environmental policies. He was supposed to be at this committee this week. We now know that he's not going to be here, upon numerous requests, so it is very clear that the minister is hiding from Canadians, and it's very clear why. On October 13, the Supreme Court of Canada—
Liberal
Leah Taylor Roy Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
I'm sorry; you just explained why the minister's not coming and the member opposite is clearly stating—