Evidence of meeting #31 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was siemens.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
You made a decision based on the need for energy security with no understanding or expectation that returning the turbine would in fact provide any sort of solution to the energy security challenges.
4:30 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
It was our understanding that the turbine played an integral part in the operation of Gazprom's Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
You would have given it back, expecting it would be used in the pipeline, and that would have been the solution.
Did you have no information that would have given you pause to think that, probably, Putin was going to weaponize energy?
4:30 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
This is the part where we had to engage the governments and receive guidance on what to do next.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Far be it from me to advise an energy company, but it seems that continuing a contract with Gazprom would be a challenge. You may want to consider some of that.
Quickly, are there any other aspects of the Canadian sanctions regime that have had impacts on your organization?
4:30 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
Currently, Siemens Energy Canada Limited—Siemens Energy, in total—follows a strict adherence to the law and the sanctions that are in place. I don't know what sanctions impact which projects around the globe, but we have a rigorous system that detects any sanctions in place. In fact, it's connected to our systems, so we would be alerted. We pride ourselves on strict compliance with sanctions regimes. That's automated in our processes.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Thank you, Ms. McPherson.
Mr. Wohlschlegel, you indicated at the start that you would be available only until 4:30. However, as you recognize, because of the vote in the chamber, we didn't get started until around 3:40. Would you be available for another 10 minutes, so we could provide other members the opportunity to ask you questions as well?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi
Thank you very much. We're very grateful for that.
Now we go to Mr. Chong, for five minutes.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Thanks. I'll be splitting my time with Mr. Genuis.
I think the Department of Foreign Affairs should cancel the remaining export permits for the remaining five gas turbines in Montreal. What would Siemens Canada's position be if that were to happen?
4:35 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
If the permit is cancelled, we would not continue any future work.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Would you voice opposition, or support, or would you remain silent if that were to happen?
4:35 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
I can't speculate. What we understand is that, currently, there is no work continuing.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
There's no work continuing, but you applied for the permit. It was your decision to apply for the permit, so presumably you have a position if the Government of Canada were to revoke the permit for the remaining five turbines.
If Siemens doesn't have a position, it seems to me, Mr. Chair, that there's a pretty easy political solution to the problem, which is for the Government of Canada to revoke the permits for the remaining five turbines. If Siemens doesn't have a position on the revocation of the permitting for these five remaining turbines, then the Government of Canada has an easy path forward to do exactly that.
4:35 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
I'm not sure if that was a question.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
What you're telling me, then, is that Siemens Canada—Siemens globally—has no position, whether or not the Government of Canada were to revoke the permits for the remaining five turbines in Montreal.
4:35 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
It's hard for us to speculate on how the future will look.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
It's not speculative. I'm asking you a very simple question, which is whether you have a position on the revocation of the permits for the remaining five turbines?
4:35 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
Maybe I should say that we don't have a position.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
Okay. Thank you. That's clear.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In court filings, the Government of Canada said that one of its reasons for granting this waiver was the impact on jobs in Canada. Did you make any representations to the government, claiming that denying the request for an exemption would impact jobs at your facility?
4:35 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
As part of the permit process, we communicated information on our facilities in Canada and also on the number of employees at the facility for the AGT, but we never stated that any jobs would be at risk.
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Okay. That's a very important point. You never stated that jobs would be at risk.
Is it the case that jobs would be at risk in Montreal if the government chose not to grant this permit?
4:35 p.m.
Managing Director, Siemens Energy Canada Limited
Like I said earlier in my statement, this was only one of many contracts that we perform at this facility, so it's a small portion of the work that we do there.