Environment Committee on Dec. 5th, 2023

[Marc Hudon]

I'm not sure I understand the question. I have to say that I don't work with agencies per se.

In terms of governance, I was involved in the St. Lawrence action plan.

The St. Lawrence action plan was instrumental in making collaborative initiatives with the provincial government. I have seen this kind of work done in the province of Ontario, also, through the RAPs, but I don't remember.... It's been quite a few years since.

However, the key issue, even at that level, is to have social acceptability and to feel that the population is being understood, is being taken into account and is supportive of whatever level of government is involved. Municipalities are extremely.... They are key. They are the closest ones to the people.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you.

Maybe I'll clarify with you where I was coming from. The Forum for Leadership on Water.... You're listed as a member of that forum. The forum has a very diverse membership.

Groups like FLOW are critical in our understanding of the water needs locally, including municipal water leads. From your involvement with the other agencies, can you tell us how the federal government can look to agencies like FLOW to help us with our water strategies?

[Marc Hudon]

I could reply in writing. Maybe that would be better.

However, it would be to use active organizations on the ground within each province that we know are the champions. In Quebec, you have Regroupement des organismes de bassins versants du Québec, and you have the ZIP committees. Ontario has many organizations. You have to use what is existing and what has proven, over the years, to be instrumental in adapting to whatever new challenges come up.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you.

Anything in writing to show us to not forget about the Forum for Leadership on Water as a key partner would be beneficial for both of us.

Now I'm going to go to Dr. Orihel.

The work that you've done on the Experimental Lakes Area.... That was a canoeing area of mine when I grew up in Winnipeg. When the funding was cut, it was something that I felt very personally about—the opportunity that we were going to lose for keeping data on the health of our lakes and our wetlands.

Could you comment on the importance of long-term funding in keeping long-term data around fresh water in Canada?

[Dr. Diane Orihel]

Absolutely. Thank you very much.

There are two facets to speak to. First, there is long-term monitoring of lakes over time in the same way to see how they are changing. Another facet is long-term experiments. At the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario, we have been doing both for over 50 years.

In terms of funding, long-term funding is so essential because, for people like me who are academics, our funding cycles are on the scale of a couple of years. You can't do large-scale, long-term experiments on NSERC funding cycles. You can't do long-term ecological monitoring of lakes on NSERC funding cycles. This really needs to be done with dedicated funding and dedicated people who stay the same, and securely, through time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That brings us to the end of our meeting.

I would like to thank the witnesses once again for making themselves available to continue a conversation that has turned out to be extremely interesting and rich in detail. A lot of information has been brought forward that will help us prepare our report.

Ms. Orihel, thank you for being with us in person once again.

I would also like to thank the witnesses who have joined us by videoconference.

We've had a very interesting and enjoyable discussion with you. Thank you and have a good day.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair, before you adjourn.

I was hoping to have a question before we adjourn, but since I won't, I would just like to raise again my motion from last week, the Alberta Energy Regulator motion. As it was discussed but not fully debated, I'd like to bring it back to the agenda first thing on Thursday.

I can read the motion, if you'd like, or I can just ask that it be on the agenda first thing on Thursday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I believe the agenda is set for Thursday, so you would have to move it at some point during the meeting. If you're moving it now, you'd still have to move it again, because we're at 1:30 and the resources are limiting our ability to continue meeting today. We're basically done in four minutes, so you would have to move it again on Thursday.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thanks.

We'll adjourn now.