Natural Resources Committee on Nov. 27th, 2024

[Michael Vandergrift]

I'm not sure I'm entirely following the question.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Let me quote the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development on some of his input on what you've accomplished so far with these organizations, because he presented this to Parliament just a couple of weeks ago.

He says, “a lack of reliability in projections hindered the credibility of the plan.” In fact, the recent decreases to projected 2030 emissions were not due to climate actions taken by governments but were, instead, because of revisions to the data or methods used in modelling.

In short, you're spending a lot of money in all these programs, including the 2 billion trees program, and you're accomplishing absolutely nothing. You're just monkeying around with the numbers. These are the organizations that your department and the Department of Environment are funding to give you false data points. Do you understand my question now?

[Michael Vandergrift]

I'm just not sure what organizations you're referring to. I don't know.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Seriously? You've given $8 million to the Pembina Institute over the last number of years.

Are they one of the organizations giving you the information that says this emissions cap is actually possible?

[Michael Vandergrift]

The input on the emissions cap was to Environment and Climate Change Canada, which is responsible for developing the regulation.

In NRCan, we did work on what would be technically feasible in terms of methane reductions and carbon capture and storage as input into that regulation. The regulation is now out for consultation. We invite Canadians to participate in that consultation. Please provide views on this regulation—

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you, Mr. McLean.

Now we'll go to Mr. Schiefke for the final few minutes today.

The floor is yours, sir.

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Thank you very much, Chair. I'd like to add my thanks to our witnesses and department officials for being here.

I think I'm going to continue with the line of questioning on the 2 billion trees program.

Contrary to my Conservative colleague, I have seen the fruits of this program right here in my community of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, with over 10,000 trees being planted by the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion, which received half of the funding through the program. They covered the other half. In response to some of the questions from opposition members, the trees were actually planted by the city officials themselves—by the city.

Along those lines, I'm wondering if you could perhaps elaborate on the split between rural and urban tree planting. How effective is our push to get those trees planted in urban settings?

[Glenn Hargrove]

I think our urban stream under the program has been very successful. As I mentioned earlier, we're exceeding the targets on urban planting.

Urban trees provide a range of benefits. They provide mental health and physical health benefits to communities. They help to cool urban spaces. They give folks places to relax and connect to nature, and there are climate benefits. I think that's been a really successful stream of the program.

Of course, planting in urban settings costs more than in other settings. That's why we had these different streams. I'd also say that we have a great project with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities whereby they're going to be working with about 300 communities to plant 1.2 million trees in those communities. That'll create about 2,000 jobs every year in those communities. We're really rolling that out right across the country.

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

That's fantastic.

Would you be able to share that information with the committee? I'd actually love to see a bit more about that program with the Canadian Federation of Municipalities. Perhaps I'll even share it with some of the municipalities in my community of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

I agree with you a hundred per cent. The benefits of planting trees in urban settings are incredible. We're experiencing that already in my community of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, where we've experienced significant urban sprawl over the last 10 years. We're looking to recapture some of the green spaces that have unfortunately been taken over by development, restore some of those green spaces where people can go to get more temperate temperatures, and ensure that we have cleaner air in our community. It's been very successful.

I have only two minutes left, and the chair is probably going to cut me off—

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

You have about 30 seconds.

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Oh, darn.

Could you speak a little about how effective the partnerships with our indigenous partners have been in putting this forward?

I know that's an important relationship that we have to foster to get this done.

[Glenn Hargrove]

Thanks very much. I'll try to be quick.

In the first two years, I believe, of the program, 20% of the projects had an indigenous lead. There's a lot of interest in the program.

We also co-developed an indigenous funding stream with a distinctions-based approach, whereby we're working with first nations and Métis groups to work on their priorities and objectives in terms of tree planting. One example we have is Nekoté Limited, which is planting trees to restore fire-damaged lands in Manitoba.

There are examples across the country of the excellent work that indigenous groups are doing in terms of planting through the program.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you.

I want to thank officials for joining us today and providing detailed answers to the questions by committee members.

Colleagues, do we have agreement to adjourn for this evening?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Have a great evening. The meeting is adjourned.