Environment Committee on Sept. 22nd, 2025

[Megan Nichols]

I would just say that certainly it's always important to consider a range of policy measures in terms of emissions reductions. The oil and gas sector is the highest-emitting sector in the Canadian economy, and some subsectors are growing, so it's certainly one that we need to continue to focus on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you, Ms. Nichols.

Monsieur St-Pierre is next.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I may share my time with my colleagues.

One of the Aichi targets is to conserve 30% of Canada's land and water by 2030. Can you give us an update on your achievements with respect to this objective?

[Tara Shannon]

Yes. Right now, we're at about 13.8% of the protected area target for 2030, which is 30%.

The aquatic is over 15%. I apologize, as I don't have the exact number in front of me at the moment.

There is still a lot of work to to do. I think it's really important to acknowledge that in the context of meeting the target, we have to work very closely with our provincial and territorial colleagues, who are responsible for the administration of 76% of Canada's lands. Only 6% of Canada's territory falls under federal jurisdiction. It's an area of distinct partnership with our provincial and territorial colleagues.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I have a quick follow-up question and then I'll pass it on to my colleagues.

Have you put in place any conservation projects or initiatives for the coming years? Can you speak to that?

[Tara Shannon]

There are a number of them.

I think I would probably highlight the existing nature agreements with our provincial and territorial partners. We have five in place and a sixth one under consideration with the Province of Manitoba.

I think I would highlight in particular the work that is also under way with respect to the nature agreement with the Province of British Columbia, which is actually a trilateral agreement between Canada and British Columbia and the indigenous nations in the province. That is an umbrella initiative with many other subprojects that will be proceeding as defined by a trilateral governance committee.

[Shannon Miedema, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

I'm wondering if you can update us on what I think was maybe the work to create a federal strategy around insured and uninsured losses based on extreme weather events across the country.

I had been speaking in my past life with the City of Halifax about the Insurance Bureau of Canada and their event every fall with Climate Proof Canada. I know that they have been speaking directly with your department as well as others and I'm wondering where that sits now.

[Alison McDermott]

Thanks for the question. It's an excellent question.

This is a bit of a shared file between Public Safety and Environment Canada, so I think we would be better to come back with a written answer to that question as an update on where we stand.

[Bruce Fanjoy, Liberal, Carleton, ON]

This may also be a bit of a shared file. I want to hear what the government is doing and anticipates doing with respect to adaptation and mitigation. We had serious droughts across the country this year affecting agriculture. Wildfires are becoming a permanent part of summer and even spring in the country, and they're affecting air quality.

What is ECCC planning in order to help Canadians address these issues?

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

You have 40 seconds.

[Alison McDermott]

The Department of the Environment is actually working across the federal government with a long series of other departments in implementing its national adaptation strategy. To date, the government has invested more than $6.6 billion to help Canadians prepare for and prevent the impacts of climate change. We're continuing to roll out some of that money while we think about additional and new potential policies and programs.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you, Ms. McDermott.

Mr. Bonin, you have two and a half minutes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll come back to my question, which is very simple: Given the government's setbacks, what percentage of the 2030 emissions reduction plan target will be met?

[Alison McDermott]

We are in the process of revising the projections in light of the most recent information, to answer that question directly. We will have, I hope, the new projections before the update scheduled for December.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Setting aside Mr. Carney's recent setbacks, what percentage of the target has been met, at last count?

[Alison McDermott]

Should I respond regardless of the decisions that were made?

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Yes. What percentage of the target has been met, according to your latest assessment?

[Alison McDermott]

I can give you the results published in December 2024. The first biennial transparency report showed that all measures implemented and announced are expected to reduce Canada's emissions by 34% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 40% by 2035.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Those results were calculated before the oil and gas sector's greenhouse gas emissions cap regulations were adopted. Is that correct?

[Alison McDermott]

That is among the measures that were announced.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Today is an Opposition Day in the House. The Conservatives tabled a motion to abolish the emissions cap, which has not yet been implemented. Should the measure be abolished, by what percentage would greenhouse gas emissions rise?

[Alison McDermott]

That's precisely why we make projections, to find that out.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Are you talking specifically about that measure?

[Alison McDermott]

Yes. We haven't completed the work, but we feel that it wouldn't be a significant contribution, given all the other measures announced in the plan.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

What emissions reductions were expected through those regulations, which have not been passed and are at risk of being shelved?