Foreign Affairs Committee on Nov. 20th, 2023

Evidence of meeting #83 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 lng.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Situation at the Russia-Ukraine Border and Implications for Peace and Security

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Geoffrey Wood Professor, Western University, As an Individual

Jacob Irving President and Chief Executive Officer, Energy Council of Canada

Jennifer Clapp Professor, University of Waterloo, As an Individual

Anna Ackermann Policy Analyst, Green Reconstruction of Ukraine, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Trevor Kennedy Vice-President, Trade and International Policy, Business Council of Canada

Normand Mousseau Scientific Director and Professor, Trottier Energy Institute, University of Montreal, As an Individual

Sylvain Charlebois Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab and Professor, Dalhousie University

1 p.m.

Bloc

Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi

We will now go for the final minute and a half to MP McPherson.

1 p.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Thank you very much.

Again, thank you to all our witnesses.

Mr. Kennedy, you spoke about regulatory certainty, and you know we have some challenges with that in this country. We have provincial jurisdiction. We've signed on, as we should have, to things like the UNDRIP declaration.

When I look at regulatory certainty, there is one thing I want to get some clarity on. Right now, my provincial government has actually paused any investment in renewables. We've heard that about 33 million dollars' worth of investment has fled the province because of that, and multiple thousands of jobs.

Would you agree that this provides significant regulatory uncertainty in green technologies and green energy?

November 20th, 2023 / 1 p.m.

Vice-President, Trade and International Policy, Business Council of Canada

Trevor Kennedy

I'm not familiar with that specific decision, but I would say that businesses greatly value predictability and stability. That's a clear message, I think, to all jurisdictions in Canada. If you want investment, predictable, clear and reliable rules are extremely important, particularly for many international investors.

1 p.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Thank you.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi

Thank you very much, MP McPherson.

At this point, allow me to thank all three of our witnesses: Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Charlebois and Monsieur Mousseau. We're very grateful for your time and for your expertise.

We will be adjourning this meeting, but before I do so, I was wondering if the members have had a chance to look at the two budgets that were sent. One is a revised budget for this specific study, since we had technical problems in hearing from a few of the witnesses. The other one is for a briefing that you have asked for in a week and a half.

Do we have unanimous consent?

1 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ali Ehsassi

That's excellent. Thank you.

The meeting stands adjourned.