Natural Resources Committee on March 10th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Thank you.

We'll go back to Monsieur Simard.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Hamilton, I'm going to ask you to give me a clear yes or no answer.

Right now, if you're analyzing a project, will you take into account the reduction of emissions?

Also, in the context of this analysis, can the minister authorize the use of wood?

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Mr. Hamilton.

[Kelby Hamilton]

My understanding is that's a two-part question. The first part is whether we take emissions into account. For that, the answer is yes.

The second part, in regard to the minister's authorizing the use of wood, currently there is nothing in any of the regulations in PSPC that specifically annotates wood, to my knowledge.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

I just want things to be clear.

The use of wood is therefore forbidden at the moment. Wood cannot be used in projects at the moment.

Is that right, Mr. Hamilton?

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Mr. Hamilton.

[Kelby Hamilton]

It's not forbidden. No specific material is identified. It doesn't say steel. It doesn't say wood. It doesn't say concrete.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

If no specific material is identified, then the minister can authorize the use of wood.

[Kelby Hamilton]

Mr. Chair, it's not clear to me what specifically is being asked by the member.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Mr. Simard.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

You just told me, Mr. Hamilton.

I'm asking you if the use of wood is forbidden. You're telling me that it is not.

What I'm telling you is that, if the use of wood is not forbidden, the minister can authorize it. He can do it as it stands. If it is not forbidden, he can authorize it.

What is the benefit of the bill if you already consider emission reductions and can already authorize the use of wood?

[Kelby Hamilton]

We don't authorize any specific product in construction. The goal in construction is to minimize the emissions during construction. Through the GHG options analysis methodology, the end result is to use the materials during construction that reduce and have the smallest emissions footprint possible.

If through that analysis wood turns out to provide the smallest emissions footprint, wood will be the product that is chosen. That is the basis of using an options analysis methodology.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

So if wood is the product with the smallest carbon footprint, we can use it now. That is what I wanted to know.

I understand from your nod that you're saying yes.

I come back to my first question.

At the moment, if you analyze a project, you can consider emission reductions and use wood if it is the material with the lowest carbon footprint. You can do that today.

Is that what you're telling me?

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Be brief, and then I have Mr. Angus on my list.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Thank you. This has been very interesting—

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Charlie, just before I go to you, I'm going to ask Mr. Hamilton for a quick response to Monsieur Simard's question.

[Kelby Hamilton]

Designers will put forward design solutions evaluating construction to establish the best solution possible. Again, it all comes back to what design solution is using the various tools we have available to provide the smallest GHG emission footprint. If wood ends up being that outcome, then wood would be the product that is selected.

This is not about one product over another. We have no preference. We use an agnostic tool that provides a response. If it's wood, we select wood.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Thank you, Mr. Hamilton.

Go ahead, Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Thank you.

This has been very helpful. I'm really pleased that we've had our witness here, being that this is a bill we're hoping to get back today and that it is Mr. Cannings' bill, not Mr. Simard's. I think Mr. Simard should have brought in a bill like this. We would have had a much more fulsome debate with all of our witnesses, but that didn't happen.

I'm ready to vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

I have nobody else on my list, so I'm ready to call the vote on BQ-1.

(Amendment negatived)

I wanted to welcome Ms. Block and Mr. Lake, as well as our legislative clerk, to the table today.

We will now move to clause 1 as it was originally put forward.

(Clause 1 agreed to)

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Shall the bill carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Shall the chair report the bill to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.