Environment Committee on March 12th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

I call this meeting to order.

Hello, colleagues. Today is meeting number 29 of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

This meeting is taking place in a hybrid format and is public.

For those attending in person, please follow the health and safety guidelines as per the cards on the table to prevent audio or feedback incidents. In particular, please keep earpieces away from microphones to reduce the risk of injury from feedback incidents.

Today, the committee is reviewing the 2025‑26 supplementary estimates (C).

I shall interrupt the meeting a few minutes before the scheduled hour of adjournment, so that the committee may vote on these supplementary estimates.

The committee is meeting with the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, who is accompanied by the following witnesses.

From the Department of the Environment, we have Alison McDermott, assistant deputy minister, strategic policy and international affairs branch; from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, we have Terence Hubbard, president; and from the Parks Canada Agency, we have Andrew Campbell, acting president and chief executive officer and senior vice-president of transformation.

For opening remarks and questioning witnesses, Minister Dabrusin, you know the drill with the famous cards. Welcome. The floor is yours for five minutes.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to begin by acknowledging that we are meeting on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation.

I'm happy to meet with members of the committee to discuss the 2025-26 supplementary estimates (C) for Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Parks Canada Agency.

The spending adjustments we are discussing today are part of the government's broader effort to ensure that public resources are concentrated where they will have the greatest impact, strengthening Canada's economy, protecting nature and advancing our climate goals.

As Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, I'm focused on protecting the environment and delivering ambitious climate action while growing a strong, sustainable economy and building a healthier and more resilient Canada for all Canadians.

Environmental and economic policy are not mutually exclusive. They're part of the same conversation. Well-designed environmental policy encourages cleaner technology and more efficient ways of producing goods. It paves the way to creating new jobs and industries while reducing pollution and long-term environmental damage.

Nowhere is that clearer than the global energy transformation currently under way. It is one of the most significant economic shifts of our time. Around the world, it's reshaping how capital flows, where industries invest and how countries build their competitive advantage. The countries that succeed in this new landscape will be those that combine economic strength with environmental ambition. These are the countries that will gain jobs, wealth and security for decades.

Canada is well positioned to lead that transition. We have the critical minerals needed to power the technologies of the future, world-class scientific capacity and abundant clean electricity. We have leading researchers, innovative companies and workers with the skills to build the next generation of energy infrastructure, but leadership in the global energy transition requires deliberate policy, strategic investment and the institutions that can deliver results for Canadians.

In the months ahead, our government will continue advancing policies to support clean growth, strengthen climate resilience and protect the natural systems that Canadians value so deeply. These efforts will position Canada to meet the environmental challenges of our time and see the economic opportunities that come with them.

Let's turn to the 2025-26 supplementary estimates (C) before us. These are the last updates to the estimates for the fiscal year.

Starting with Environment and Climate Change Canada, its 2025-26 supplementary estimates (C) would increase the department's reference levels by a net amount of $4.8 million. This includes increases such as $2.5 million for high-performance computing operations and $1 million to raise awareness and inform Canadians about climate initiatives.

There are multiple transfers from other departments that total a net increase of $1.3 million. This includes $1 million from Natural Resources Canada to support the federal contaminated sites action plan, plus there is a $7.2-million reallocation from operating resources to capital expenditures.

For Parks Canada Agency, its 2025‑26 supplementary estimates (C) provide an increase in reference levels by a net amount of $10.9 million. This amount is compensation for the lost-revenue component of the renewal of the Canada Strong Pass for the 2025‑26 winter holiday season.

Plus, there is $22 million in internal reallocation from capital to operating expenditures to prioritize urgent, non-discretionary operating activities needed for the recovery and rebuilding of Jasper National Park.

This results in an overall increase of $32.9 million in operating expenditures, grants and contributions, and a decrease of $22 million in capital expenditures.

Finally, the Impact Assessment Agency is internally reallocating $6 million to grants and contributions from operating expenditures. This transfer supports indigenous organizations in strengthening their capacity for early engagement on major projects, in alignment with the new accelerated project timelines.

Mr. Chair, I'm going to stop here. I hope this summary provides members with an overview of the 2025‑26 supplementary estimates (C).

I'm happy to take questions now from the members of the committee.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Minister, thank you for your remarks.

We'll start with the Conservative Party for six minutes.

Mr. Leslie, you have the floor.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, hunters, anglers and outfitters are deeply concerned that they will lose their rights and, in some cases, their livelihoods if the proposed Seal River national park reserve in Manitoba moves ahead. Will you guarantee that no Canadian would be banned from continuing to hunt or fish if this proposed national park moves ahead?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

The proposed national park that we're doing with Seal River is in conjunction with Manitoba. We have a very strong relationship with the Province of Manitoba. We're making sure that the people and stakeholders—and that includes the hunters in the area—are all being consulted and included in these conversations. I have had very good conversations with the Minister of Environment for Manitoba. I know that he takes this issue very seriously—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Minister, I asked if you could guarantee that nobody will be banned from hunting or angling in that area. Also, could you confirm and guarantee that no lodges or outfitters operating there now will have to cease if it moves ahead?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

The project is not complete, but it is my understanding that there is going to be access, as I've been talking with the Minister of Environment for Manitoba on these issues.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

You're saying today that there is—

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I'm happy to provide you with greater detail as we move forward. The project is obviously not complete, so I need to be able to get you better information as we move to completion—

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I would appreciate that.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

—but I don't believe that access is going to be a problem.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Well, not believing and saying confidently, as the minister in charge of Parks Canada, that it will not be a problem, are two different things. I'd like you to do the latter.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

What I can say is that there's a draft consultation coming out. We are aware of the issues, and that is something that's going to be up for a conversation. I know that we are all very aware of the concerns and the issues. I'm just letting you know, and I'm happy to follow up with you again on that.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Minister.

Has Parks Canada identified how many acres of forest require prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk in national parks across Canada?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I have not made that assessment, but I do have Andrew Campbell with me from Parks Canada, and he can perhaps provide more detail on that.

[Andrew Campbell, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, and Senior Vice-President of Transformation, Parks Canada Agency]

There is a fire management plan for each and every national park across Canada. Actually, we've been updating a large number of those fire management plans to respond to the report we received from NRCan after the Jasper fire.

Yes, we have done prescribed burn. Prescribed burn is one tool. Obviously, there are also forest thinning and removal of forest in areas close to, in and around town sites. Between all of those, we have done the work that needs to be done around towns in national parks.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Given the aftermath with the devastation of Jasper, Canadians want to know one thing, and it is just that. Whether it be prescribed burns or other management tools, is that going to be increased in parks across Canada?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I'll add one thing before we go there. What happened in Jasper was devastating, so I definitely want to speak about the people who were impacted by that fire. However, a lot of the work done by Parks Canada managed to save a lot of important infrastructure there as well.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

We're going to disagree on that one, Minister. We had a very lengthy study on that in the last Parliament.

Let me move on, because it doesn't sound like we're going to get any firm commitments there.

Minister, since you were made Minister of the Environment, how many times have you directly met with the net-zero advisory body to discuss its recommendations?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

In fact, if I can just let you know, I'll be meeting with them again on Friday, and I do meet with them and talk with them. I think that we will have good conversations moving forward.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I'm glad to hear that, because several members have resigned, saying that their advice was being ignored. My question is this: If you just ignore the advice of this body, why does it even exist?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I very much do not ignore their advice. They come with very important experience and very important recommendations. As I mentioned, I'll be meeting with them on Friday. We are working on how we can make it the most effective NZAB possible.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you, Minister.

The government's own consultation report, “What we heard report—Fertilizer emissions reduction”, found that many farmers warned that the target could eventually lead to mandatory limits on fertilizer use. I'm hoping you will clearly state today that the government will never impose caps or reductions on fertilizer use for Canadian farmers.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

The environmental policy that I have before me is not imposing caps. We recognize very much the importance of farming. In fact, I was recently at the University of Guelph, where I was able to meet with researchers who were talking about all of the important ways that they're supporting farming and agriculture in a time of climate change. There's a lot of research that is being done specifically on how to support farmers in this moment.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Your government is closing a series of research stations under AAFC, so I would disagree with that.

I will move on.

Bill C-264 has been tabled in Parliament to repeal the tanker ban off Canada's west coast. Do you plan to support that legislation as a government?