Evidence of meeting #40 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shannon Miedema
I'm sorry, Ms. Anstey. You are out of time.
Thank you very much.
We'll now go to Mr. Malette for five minutes.
Liberal
Chris Malette Liberal Bay of Quinte, ON
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Minister, bringing us back to more substantive matters, Canada's 2030 nature strategy commits to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, including through target 6, which I believe you're familiar with, on invasive alien species. It calls for stronger prevention, early detection, and control and eradication efforts. In communities such as mine, along the Bay of Quinte and the Trent-Severn Waterway, organizations like Quinte Conservation are increasingly concerned about invasive aquatic plants, such as water soldier, that threaten native ecosystems, recreational waterways and local biodiversity.
Minister, can you tell me what role the federal government is playing in coordinating invasive species management with provincial and local partners? Will additional rapid response supports be made available to help communities contain and eradicate these threats before they spread further?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Thank you for the question.
This is very important for communities across our country. I have joined community members in Toronto as we've gone out and tried to curtail the growth of invasive species. As an example, we have worked with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and many biospheres on reducing the expansion of phragmites and dealing with those kinds of invasive species. I know that it's important to communities.
We work with local organizations to deliver those types of programs. I've seen it with local biospheres. Long Point Biosphere is one example that comes to mind in working directly on phragmites prevention. In your general region, you have biospheres like Frontenac Arch that do some important work. There's also working with local organizations. A lot of the hands-on work in these kinds of spaces, which we really should shout out here, is done by community organizations who know, on the ground, how to do this work.
We absolutely continue with those partnerships. One of the most important parts of all the work we do on nature protection and environment is in the area of partnerships—partnerships with provinces, partnerships with municipalities, as well as partnerships with organizations on the ground. We absolutely continue with that work. It's important work in protecting biodiversity.
Liberal
Chris Malette Liberal Bay of Quinte, ON
Minister, further to that, and in line with your response, the Bay of Quinte has seen decades of work, including with the Bay of Quinte remedial action plan, which was instrumental in helping to remove the Bay of Quinte, or almost delist it, from one of the five areas of concern around the Great Lakes. It was in a bad state a few short decades ago. They've been working to improve water quality and the general ecosystem health, which, of course, benefits all our communities.
Can you tell me how the federal government is ensuring that the nature strategy complements ongoing freshwater protection efforts in the Great Lakes and connected waterways in particular, such as the Trent-Severn system?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
It's kind of funny; I have two people at the end of my table who do some of that direct work. In tribute to the Canada Water Agency, they are celebrating one year of existence in doing important work on the Great Lakes. It's not just the Great Lakes. It's in the Great Lakes area specifically. President Mark Fisher from Canada Water Agency is working on a national water security strategy as well, as part of the work. I think the Canada Water Agency has shown amazing leadership in that space.
If you're talking about the Trent-Severn Waterway, Parks Canada also plays an important role, and we're working with communities to make sure we're protecting those spaces. I really want to highlight that this is work by federal agencies but that we are always working very much in partnership with indigenous nations, local communities and our provinces to make sure we get it right.
Liberal
Chris Malette Liberal Bay of Quinte, ON
Thank you, Minister. I may go a little further in the second hour with Mr. Fisher and other officials.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shannon Miedema
Thank you very much, Mr. Malette.
You have the floor for two and a half minutes, Mr. Bonin.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ms. Dabrusin, the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development has said that since 1990, Canada has had the worst performance among G7 nations. This morning, the former minister of environment said that with the latest events, once again, Canada has the worst record among the G7 nations and even in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Can you name any G7 nation that has a worse track record than Canada in meeting its climate change targets?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I'm happy that you brought up the G7, because I actually attended the G7 meeting in Paris a month ago and the other members were telling us that Canada was a leading nation, so—
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Minister, if Canada is a leading nation, then which country is worse than Canada? That was my question.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
What I'm telling you is that Canada is a leading nation. I'll not name the other countries that are not. Canada is a leading nation when it comes to methane and when it comes to—
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
I get it, thank you.
I'll move on to something else if you won't answer my question.
My next question—
Liberal
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Right.
Minister, you never answer questions when people talk to you about pipeline, oil and liquefied natural gas projects, and yet you say you have a nature strategy.
To what extent is your nature strategy going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I don't agree with what you're insinuating in your question, and so I don't even know how to give you a proper answer. What I have said is—
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
—that we're working to reduce our emissions. I've spoken about a lot of things, but you're not giving me time to fully answer questions. If you want to speak to that, we can always talk about drilling on Anticosti Island.
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
What greenhouse gas emission reductions will your nature strategy achieve?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
We are continuing to carry out analyses. Electricity will have the greatest impact on reducing our emissions. Thus our electrification strategy—
Bloc
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
The largest reductions will be connected to energy efficiency and electricity. We will double the capacity of our electricity grid through Hydro-Québec.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Is it possible that your nature strategy will not achieve any reduction in greenhouse gas emissions?
