Evidence of meeting #61 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
Sorry, I'll just leave some time for Mr. Rafferty. Could you table this document with us?
3:50 p.m.
NDP
John Rafferty NDP Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Whenever the minister speaks, he always talks about the Ring of Fire, and those of us who live in northern Ontario know that there's virtually nothing going on there.
June 2nd, 2015 / 3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
I just wanted to say that I believe the officials are here for the supplementary estimates. It may be quite unfair as well, as it's not really what we're doing here, to ask them about points—
3:50 p.m.
NDP
John Rafferty NDP Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
He's fond of talking about the Ring of Fire any chance he gets, but those of us who live in northern Ontario know that not much is going on.
You talked in your opening remarks about over 50 new geoscience results and that these are being used by industry to adapt their exploration approaches, for example, in Ontario's Ring of Fire region. You may know that the last two exploration firms there are in great danger of pulling out because nothing's going on there.
Can you explain what these geoscience results are that the industry is using in Ontario's Ring of Fire?
3:50 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Department of Natural Resources
I can't speak specifically to the results that they're using, but maybe what I can talk a little bit about is what the targeted geoscience initiative tries to do on behalf of industries with regard to some of the exploration. Really what it's doing is focusing on new and innovative ways to look for deeper mineral deposits, reducing some of the risks for mineral exploration and helping improve the industry's global competitiveness while creating opportunities at home.
In budget 2015 we did have an allocation identified of about $23 million or $24 million over the next five years to stimulate the technological innovation needed to separate and develop chromite and other important minerals. According to the Province of Ontario, the Ring of Fire region is estimated to hold over $60 billion of in situ metal deposits of chromite, base metals, and platinum-group metals. So our estimate of the value of the seven most-advanced projects is between $31 billion and $54 billion, related to those types of minerals.
In the past four years $40 million of federal funds have been invested to support aboriginal capacity-building, as well as business and skills development in northern Ontario to support the initiative. Over three years, starting in 2013, $4.4 million has been invested from FedNor to support aboriginal communities.
Another $5.9 million was invested from the ESDC's—Employment and Social Development Canada's—skills and partnership fund to support skills training for aboriginal peoples in 2013, and $5.2 million was invested toward training and work experience for aboriginal participants in 2014.
So in addition—
3:55 p.m.
NDP
John Rafferty NDP Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
I'll check with these two companies that are left in the Ontario's Ring of Fire and find out how they're using these geoscience results.
Thank you.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Honourable Geoff Regan Liberal Geoff Regan
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Ramcharan and Mr. Lafaille, for being with us today, and to the others who are here supporting you.
Actually, I'm glad Mr. Rafferty added that, because I was going to ask if you could get back to the committee with an answer to the specific question that Mr. Rafferty asked.
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Department of Natural Resources
I would have to know the name of the specific companies in order to talk about how we would help or support them in terms of the Ring of Fire.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
My understanding was that it was the minister or you who said they were doing this, so you should know which ones you're supporting in the Ring of Fire, right?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Department of Natural Resources
We're supporting research; we're not supporting companies directly.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Oh, I see, so you're providing research and you don't know how they're using it. Is that what you're saying?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Department of Natural Resources
We could provide more information with regard to the research being provided to really look at exploration for minerals. My colleague here is responsible for the targeted geoscience initiative if you want to hear a little more about that.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
I don't right now. It was his question, not mine, but it was of interest.
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Department of Natural Resources
Okay.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Let me go on to something else.
When you were here on May 5 to discuss the main estimates, you told me that AECL funding for 2015-16 included $119 million from the mains and an additional $72 million announced in the April budget. Now we see another $164.9 million in the supplementary estimates (A). I assume that $164.9 million includes the $72 million announced in the budget to maintain safe and reliable operations at Chalk River. If that's the case, what is the additional $93 million required for?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Department of Natural Resources
Again, just from what I have in front of me, what's been identified in the supplementary estimates for Atomic Energy of Canada is $164.9 million, which is funding to support nuclear science and medical isotopes. That's what's in their supplementary estimates (A) as additional funding.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
That's pretty broad. Has anything changed since the budget that would require $93 million more?
3:55 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management and Services Sector, Department of Natural Resources
Again, as to what would change, I wouldn't be able to speak directly to their program. Maybe I could ask AECL to provide some additional information with regard to your question.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
I would think that before saying yes to $93 million more for AECL, the department would want to know what it was for, right?
