Natural Resources Committee on June 8th, 2006

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Very well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

In any event, that's probably good for the day.

I think we'll make one more exception, with the consent of the government members, for Mr. Bevington to have one short follow-up. Then, we'll wrap it up.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

Okay, I'll keep it brief.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to follow up on my colleague's remarks on the renewable energy technologies and the need to really understand where we're going with that.

It would be good if we could have a presentation on the state of the geothermal industry. I know that under the REDI program there were no subsidies available for geothermal, but geothermal can also include a number of components, including air-to-air heat pumps and water-based heat pump systems. So I think it would be very good to have a presentation on geothermal at some point.

On solar thermal energy as well, I think we have some industries in Canada right now that are fledgling and will be impacted by the lack of support for these industries. We have to be pretty careful with these, to ensure that they continue. I can't say it enough: the solar thermal industry in Canada is huge. We've seen in Europe, where they have a third less solar insulation on average and they're doing very well with solar thermal energy in all their buildings. We really need to approach this very quickly and very carefully to ensure that the industry we do have starting in Canada gets some added incentive to move on.

We've lost some of those programs. How can we get them back on this government's agenda? I'd like to see those two industries brought forward to the committee so we can take a look at them, because they're both great opportunities.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I think that was more of a statement than a question. It is something that has been of interest to the committee as well. I think this is a good suggestion. I've just been discussing with officials at this end of the table about trying to extend the hearing we're going to have next week. If we could have somebody from geothermal come along, we will add that to the list on our discussion of renewable fuels next Thursday.

So with that--

[Christian Ouellet, Bloc, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Mr. Chairman, on geothermal, there's a new association. I think it was incorporated a year ago. I know the person who takes care of it is very knowledgeable, and as far as I can remember, his name is Denis Tanguay. The association is a Canadian association from coast to coast. I think it would be very interesting if we could invite him, because he knows all about geothermal. That's one thing.

Last week, somebody mentioned somebody from NRCan who has good experience in alternative energies. His name--I don't know him personally--is Graham Campbell. I wonder if we could invite this gentleman, because it would be a help.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I thank you for that. We had sent out the request some time ago to all members to submit possible witnesses. The clerk is working on that. I'll take your point. My only concern is the short notice and our requirements for things like notice and translation and all that.

[Christian Ouellet, Bloc, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

You could postpone that to the fall.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

It may be just a little tight for next Tuesday, but we will keep it in mind. I think it's a general consensus of the committee that we would like to hear that. I'm leaving it to the clerk to see what can be done.

With that, I'm going to wrap.

Excuse me. Ron.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

I was just going to say, Mr. Chairman, I'd invite Mr. Bevington and any members of the committee who are ever in Kelowna--Lake Country.... We have a partnership with Natural Resources Canada and the provincial government of B.C. and the power company where we have a 2,000-lot subdivision using ground-source heat pumps. They've partnered with their own utility and they're using it as a developer's marketing tool. So it's the features, the advantages, the benefits for the consumers, where they're saving money, and they're also helping the environment.

There are some real success stories out there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Sorry, that would be where?

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

I'll even buy you a glass of wine if you want to come out and visit me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

That would be where, again, Mr. Cannan?

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Kelowna--Lake Country, the Okanagan Valley.

[Alan Tonks, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

That sounds good to me.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Come on out and we'll get you some apples, or whatever you need.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Thank you very much, again, for your patience and your responses. Thank you very much for attending.

With that, we are adjourned to the call of the chair.