Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 5th, 2024

[Christine Bonnell-Eisnor]

Just to clarify, when there is a fundamental decision for petroleum rights issuance, if the board—our organization—makes a decision to issue a licence, the provincial minister has the right to veto that decision if it pertains to the Sable Island area. The recent call for bids was a joint veto by both ministers. It didn't pertain to the provincial minister using that right in relation to Sable Island.

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

They both agreed they had to protect it because it is a unique marine conservation region, but the Nova Scotia government could have done the veto on its own. I want to ask this, because it's very important we understand that, if we are going to look at offshore wind, there will be times when questions of fragile marine ecosystems will be brought into play. There are going to be concerns and opposition to a project—maybe not two projects but one or another project.

Will there be that same focus on making sure this is done to protect the fragility of the Atlantic system, whether it's oil and gas or offshore wind? Is that something your board is capable of and ready to take on?

[Christine Bonnell-Eisnor]

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board has been around and regulating for over 30 years. Part of our mandate is the safety of operations and workers and environmental protection, and we have regulated and had safe operations in the offshore. We will continue to do that, and that will be a focus for us as we move forward with the offshore renewable energy mandate, the expanded mandate for us.

I can't speak on behalf of the ministers and what their decisions would be with respect to issuing of licences.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you.

We will now proceed to our next round of questioning.

We'll start with Mr. Small for five minutes.

Go ahead, please.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Tessier, I'm going to go in a little different direction here. This past Thursday we had Minister O'Regan here. He stated that One Ocean had been consulted during the forming of this bill.

Does One Ocean have a mandate to liaise with and address wind energy, or is its sole mandate to liaise between the fishing and petroleum industries?

[Scott Tessier]

At this point the mandate of One Ocean is specific to the fishing and petroleum sectors.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

It wouldn't be possible for One Ocean to be consulted and to take part in the consultation process on anything relating to wind energy.

[Scott Tessier]

I know there was a presentation at a One Ocean meeting in which Natural Resources Canada officials provided an overview of the legislation to participants in that meeting.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Did they present to anyone, or were they presented to?

[Scott Tessier]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the question.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Did One Ocean give a presentation, or were they presented to?

[Scott Tessier]

Natural Resources Canada presented to the One Ocean members who were in attendance that day.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

A consultation process, to the best of my knowledge, is a little bit of back-and-forth. Wouldn't you agree?

[Scott Tessier]

Yes. I can't recall the extent to which there was discussion or questions and answers. I'm sure I was there. I don't remember specifically the details of the discussion.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Tessier.

You spoke earlier about the importance of stability of regulations and how important it is to have a stable investment climate. Based on your experience in dealing with the fishing industry and trying to zig and zag and keep everything together and working and producing, how important would you say it is to have a good framework for fisheries consultation and engagement so that the energy industry and the fishing industry can coincide?

[Scott Tessier]

Mr. Chair, I think that member in particular would understand as well as or better than anybody around the table that those industries, the petroleum sector and the fishing sector, are absolutely critical to our province and the economy of Canada, so it is absolutely critical to have an effective consultation and engagement framework in which fisheries interests are at the table with a meaningful say and a full voice.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Would it be even more important in the development of wind energy to make sure the fishing industry and wind energy were getting along?

I understand that large geographical areas are required for wind farms. If the right framework is not in place, could that send a bad message to potential wind investors if they think there's going to be disruption or...? I'm searching for the right word, but you know what I'm trying to say.

[Scott Tessier]

Conflict...yes.

Those likely proponents are active in other parts of the world where the fisheries are important as well, though maybe not to the same degree they are in our part of the world. Currently there's a committee undertaking a regional assessment of offshore wind in both of our provinces. That committee is composed of some very eminent people, and they are listening right now. I would encourage both industries, the wind energy sector and the fishing sector, to engage with that committee to make sure those concerns are heard.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Getting back to last week, we were told that these consultations had taken place prior to the tabling of the bill. In fact I don't think it happened that way. Did it happen that way, to the best of your knowledge?

Was the fishing industry consulted prior to the tabling of the bill, as we were told in committee?

[Scott Tessier]

I couldn't say. We simply aren't the lead on the consultation, so I haven't been party to many of those discussions beyond the One Ocean one that we talked about earlier.

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

I have just one quick question left.

Can this bill be valid with the over 30 references to Bill C-69, which has been proven to be unconstitutional? Can this bill move forward with those many references to Bill C-69, yes or no?

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Mr. Tessier, please give a brief answer. His time is up.

[Scott Tessier]

Unfortunately, I can't give you the yes or the no. That's a question better posed to officials from the Government of Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you, Mr. Tessier.

We'll now proceed to Ms. Dabrusin for five minutes.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In fact, I'm going to be sharing my time with Ms. Jones.

I wanted to ask some questions about the international context.

Mr. Tessier, when you started, you mentioned a number of countries that made similar changes to their offshore petroleum boards to include renewables. I was wondering if perhaps you could tell me more about the conversations and what they were saying about our opportunities if we make that change.