Evidence of meeting #161 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was steam.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
I guess one of the questions then becomes whether or not taking the whole building offline is counted in those emissions reductions, in the emissions savings for the central system. Unless we see the study—
5:15 p.m.
First Vice-president, Local 20023, National Capital Region, Public Service Alliance of Canada
We're going to lose on it because whenever you go to a smaller system, it becomes less efficient. The larger the system, the more computer control we have on combustion, on NOx emissions, the whole bit. We have more control in a big, computerized central heating plant than we do over a small boiler from Carrier. That's just how it is.
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Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Finally, our last intervenor will be Monsieur Drouin for seven minutes.
Go ahead, please.
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Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I doubt that I'll need seven minutes. I'll ask only a few questions in the interest of things.
I first want to respond to my colleague, Mr. Deltell. Unfortunately, neither Ontario nor the rest of Canada has a region such as the Laurentians. They're unable to access all the hydroelectricity used by Quebec. Instead, Ontario has nuclear plants that are very expensive to replace. That said, I understand Quebec's position. I can see the Laurentians from across the river.
My first question is for BOMA. We talk about efficiency, energy, and water conservation. I'm wondering if you're also having conversations with the insurance companies in terms of whether, if we move towards a particular system, we can save on our insurance premium. Are those conversations happening?
5:15 p.m.
Manager, Environmental Standards, Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada
They are happening, absolutely. We're speaking with insurance organizations. Intact, out of Waterloo, is one of our primary ones, with Blair Feltmate, whom you may know. We know that the insurance companies are very aware of the huge payouts they're having to give for the impacts of climate change on buildings. They're aware this is happening. The numbers are growing every year. More consistently there are these high numbers. We're having these conversations.
We've explored different ways. We've explored different topics, such as whether if a building is shown to be as resilient as it possibly can be, there could be some opportunity with insurance. Those conversations haven't resulted in anything yet, but there definitely is a conversation happening within the industry on that topic.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Are you seeing a trend within your business, with your building owners, that they are adapting? For example, let's say a certain building has water pipes that burst. I know there are sensors that exist out there to ensure that if one does break, you mitigate the disaster—as opposed to, oops, we've now flooded two, three, four, or five floors. Is that happening?
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Manager, Environmental Standards, Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada
Do you mean whether they are taking those steps already?
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Manager, Environmental Standards, Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada
Yes. They're more proactive. I would say that the larger the company, the more heavily invested it's become in its corporate social responsibility targets. Those companies, those large users—the Bentall Kennedys, the GWLs—are looking at these questions.
It is new, so people aren't sure yet where to get their information or how to conduct these impact studies, but the conversation is absolutely happening. They were a critical stakeholder in the development of this resilience brief. They care. They want to have assets that continue to increase in value. They don't want to have disaster strike their building and be harmful to the tenants. They're at the front of this conversation.
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Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
That's great.
Thank you.
That's it, Mr. Chair.
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Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Thank you very much.
To all of our witnesses, I want to thank you very much for being here, either via video conference or in person. Thank you for your recommendations, your advice and your observations.
I note that all of you have provided us with copies of your presentations. We will use those to form part of our final report. However, should you have additional recommendations or suggestions for our committee as we continue with our study, I would ask that you submit them, at your earliest convenience, to our clerk. They will additionally be part of our final report. Hopefully, you have heard some things today that might spark further recommendations coming from each of your organizations.
Once again, thank you all for being here.
Colleagues, the meeting is adjourned.