Evidence of meeting #35 for Natural Resources in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was hydrogen.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ian Thomson  President, Advanced Biofuels Canada
Bertrand Masselot  President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Liquide Canada inc.
Ross R. McKitrick  Professor of Economics, University of Guelph, As an Individual
Scott Lewis  Board Member, Renewable Industries Canada; Executive Vice-President Commercial Operations and Strategy at World Energy
Malcolm West  Board Member, Renewable Industries Canada; Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer at Greenfield Global

12:35 p.m.

NDP

Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC

Thank you.

I'll go back to Mr. Lewis again.

While I can appreciate that we need to use every tool we can to decarbonize our economy, I want to try to establish what the limits of biodiesel are, for instance, in doing that, because we have to get to net zero by 2050. Maybe this doesn't involve biodiesel, obviously, but you mentioned aviation fuel, and that the supplies were low.

I've heard some very concerning things about the acreage of canola needed if we were producing aviation fuel from canola, for instance, for every flight across the Atlantic or Pacific. What are, I guess, the limits on that in terms of the feedstock, in terms of how much we would be able to use of that by 2030 or by 2050? What's the contribution that biofuels can make there?

12:35 p.m.

Board Member, Renewable Industries Canada; Executive Vice-President Commercial Operations and Strategy at World Energy

Scott Lewis

Well, I think it's significant in terms, of course, of the straight carbon reduction and the demand from the industry itself.

United Airlines is one of our customers. It has announced that it's going to be a zero-emission company by 2040. It's a challenge when what you do is fly planes. One way it's doing that is by engaging with us. We've been supplying it with sustainable aviation fuel out of our California facility since 2016. Currently we use animal fats and recovered vegetable oils. We haven't even looked into taking food crops there, because of where it's located. Of course, using these second-use products out of a very heavily populated area is one sector that is growing.

On another board I'm on, down in the Advanced Biofuels Association, we've actually recently committed to do a feedstock study for just these purposes, to look at it in the greater scope. I can say it isn't just about existing crops, because those are going to be very important, but I think that new technologies with algae, with camelina, with cover crops, that's where the expansion is going to come. Right now that's where the primary value is going to be created, by putting them into biofuels. They're not going to be done without having these policy indicators to allow us to expand.

We're not just looking at the food for fuel debate. We're looking at where we can get lipids on a massive scale. Certainly all of these feedstocks are a piece of the puzzle, a part of the layer, but I think we will continually be searching to go to the lowest carbon feedstock we can to generate some very high yields in very small areas with the new crops and lipid-based oils that are available.

12:35 p.m.

NDP

Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC

Thank you.

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

Thanks, Mr. Cannings.

That takes us to the end of our final meeting on a very interesting study. We're going to go in camera, but before we do that, I just want to say thank you to our witnesses today. We've had several amazing panels and today was no exception. Your contribution is much appreciated. It's a great way to cap off this study.

The last thing I want to say is that this probably will be Mr. Lefebvre's last meeting in this committee. Over the summer we don't know what's going to happen, but regardless, committee membership could change. I really hope I see you in September. I know, speaking on behalf of the committee, you've been an outstanding colleague. You've added so much to this committee.

Personally, you've made my experience as an MP much better. I've learned far more from you than you could ever learn from me. For that alone I'm very grateful. You are really going to be missed. Mr. Lefebvre, thank you.

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

If I may, Mr. Chair, on this side of the House I echo that. Mr. Lefebvre has been an excellent colleague. It's always a joy to come to this committee because of his participation in it, his gentlemanliness and his general respect for all of us around the table.

Mr. Lefebvre, you will be missed. Thank you.

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

Mr. Simard.

12:40 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Simard Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Chair, I would also like to say a few words to Mr. Lefebvre.

Mr. Lefebvre is a cool guy. I feel that my first experience in the committee could not have been better. I could not have asked for a more affable colleague opposite.

I am very happy that I was able to work with him, and I wish him all the best in the future.

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

Thank you very much, Mr. Simard.

Thank you, everyone.

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC

I'll chip in, obviously, too, to say my best wishes, Paul. I actually hope we'll see you back in the fall, because I'm hoping that's the way things go, maybe not on this committee but in Parliament in some form. If not, best wishes. Come out to the Okanagan. We can have a glass of wine on the patio.

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON

That sounds good. Thank you, Richard.

12:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal James Maloney

That sounds like a perfect way to adjourn the public portion of our final meeting on this topic and of this session.

Thank you all.

I will see committee members in camera momentarily.

[Proceedings continue in camera]