Evidence of meeting #62 for Finance in the 41st 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Karen Swol  Director, Program Management, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
Dean Beyea  Director, International Trade Policy Division, Department of Finance
Olivier Nicoloff  Director, Democracy, Commonwealth and Francophonie Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Colleen Barnes  Executive Director, Domestic Policy Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Nancy Leigh  Manager, Governance Secretariat, Canada School of Public Service
Jane Pearse  Director, Financial Institutions Division, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Suzanne Brisebois  Director General, Policy and Operations, Parole Board of Canada, Public Safety Canada
Louise Laflamme  Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport
Lenore Duff  Senior Director, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Lawrence Hanson  Director General, Strategic Policy Directorate, Department of the Environment
Pamela Miller  Director General, Telecommunications Policy Branch, Department of Industry
Allan MacGillivray  Special Advisor to the Director General, Telecommunications Policy, Department of Industry
Alwyn Child  Director General, Program Development and Guidance Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mireille Laroche  Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mark Hodgson  Senior Policy Analyst, Labour Markets, Employment and Learning, Department of Finance
Patrick Halley  Chief, Tariffs and Market Acess, International Trade and Finance, Department of Finance
Vivian Krause  As an Individual
Mark Blumberg  Lawyer and Partner, Blumberg Segal LLP
Dan Kelly  Senior Vice-President, Legislative Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Dennis Howlett  Coordinator, Canadians for Tax Fairness
Jamie Ellerton  Executive Director, EthicalOil.org
Blair Rutter  Grain Growers of Canada
Marcel Lauzière  President and Chief Executive Officer, Imagine Canada
Tom King  Co-Chair, Finance and Taxation Committee, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada
Sandra Harder  Director General, Strategic Policy and Planning, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Cam Carruthers  Director, Program Integrity Division, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
David Manicom  Immigration Program Manager (New Delhi), Area Director (South Asia), Department of Citizenship and Immigration

4:50 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

No, the Coastal Trade Act is administered solely by Transport Canada. They are aware of the proposed amendment. At present, you are part of the review.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

Are you talking about the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities?

4:50 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

Does this provision have particular fiscal consequences?

4:50 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

There are none.

4:50 p.m.

NDP

Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

Fine, thank you.

4:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Thank you.

Does anyone have anything further?

Mr. Brison.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

I have a question on the issue of seismic testing. Will the foreign vessels that will be conducting seismic testing off our coast be required to obtain any kind of licence, or will they need to complete any environmental review before commencing operations?

4:50 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

The seismic programs that are going to be part of those regulated by offshore boards and the NEB will still have to comply with all the regulations and standards they have to today. The exemption does not remove this requirement. Those who would conduct seismic activities that are not regulated by offshore boards—in other words, that are only speculative in nature—will continue to be regulated by the Oceans Act.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Have you done any consultation with officials in the U.S. regarding these changes, seeing as how seismic testing on our coast could have a significant impact on their coastal regions as well?

4:50 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

No, we have not.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

In allowing foreign vessels to conduct seismic activities, what precautions have you taken to mitigate potential environmental risks?

4:50 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

On the environmental side, as I said, existing regulations will not change. In addition, there are other regulatory requirements to mitigate the environmental impacts of seismic sound waves. The Statement of Canadian Practice with respect to the Mitigation of Seismic Sound in the Marine Environment will continue to apply and to mitigate any environmental impact of seismic activity.

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Are there any areas of our coastal waters that are already under concession in anticipation of these seismic reviews, and to what companies, for instance? Are there some companies already engaged or involved in this?

4:50 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

Offshore producing companies already hire seismic vessels to conduct seismic activities, both within our coastal waters and the continental shelf. This amendment is for the continental shelf only. Traditionally, it has been extremely difficult for them to import the vessels they require for the offshore portion, because the environment is much harsher and more difficult to operate in. These companies are global in nature. They're not necessarily only Canadian based; sometimes they're shared participation....

4:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

So how many seismic activity explorations would currently be under way in Canada?

4:55 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Yes.

4:55 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

Under our coasting trade licences, right now I'm aware of three licence applications that have been made this year.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Operating under domestic licences? How many are operating under foreign licences?

4:55 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

Well, the coasting trade licences are for foreign vessels. I am not aware of the Canadian activities per se because they don't require a coasting trade licence to take place.

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Under the existing or current regime, how many times has the minister provided an exception?

4:55 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

For seismic activities?

4:55 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Yes.

4:55 p.m.

Chief, Marine Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Department of Transport

Louise Laflamme

There is no ability for the minister to provide exemptions for seismic activities under the Coasting Trade Act today. The coasting trade licence is an administrative process that is administered by the Canadian Transportation Agency, which is independent of Transport Canada.