Evidence of meeting #86 for Natural Resources in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendments.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
I'm going to go to Minister Rushton.
I apologize for the interruption, Minister Rushton. Go ahead.
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Government of Nova Scotia
The Province of Nova Scotia and this government certainly believe that this bill needs to move forward, and we believe in the amendments that have been put forward.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
I asked you about the cost to ratepayers. It's 15 cents per kilowatt right now for offshore wind without government subsidies. I understand that your government is looking for 100% federal government subsidies to buffer that gap. Is that correct?
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Government of Nova Scotia
That would be very, very close to what the rates are right now, with the price of coal and things, but at the end of the day—
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Government of Nova Scotia
I wish coal was four and a half cents. Right now, today, we will do everything that is possible and make the best decisions for the ratepayers of Nova Scotia.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
The time is up. Thank you, Minister Rushton.
We will go to our next round of questioning and start with Mr. Blois for five minutes.
The floor is yours, sir.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Chair, it's great to see Atlantic witnesses before this committee. It speaks to how important this piece of legislation is to Atlantic Canada.
I'm going to try to move quickly.
Mr. Rushton, you rightly identified that the Nova Scotia government is completely on board. I would suggest to this committee that not just your government but I think all parties in the Nova Scotia Legislature recognize the importance of this.
I'll ask a very precise question. Do you see any issues with this bill from a provincial perspective? Do you see any amendments that have to be made to the bill as is—yes or no?
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Government of Nova Scotia
No. This is not a new bill. There are amendments to what already exists. The board exists. I have total faith in the board.
It's something that's needed in Nova Scotia to move the green economy and the green jobs.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Minister Parsons, you talked about this being a joint process. That seems to be something the federal Conservatives are missing. This is not being imposed, as Mr. Perkins said. This is actually a partnership.
I think you've said it very clearly, but just for the record, you want to see this bill passed as quickly as possible, unamended.
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
We are waiting for that result, yes.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Parsons, Newfoundland had a great contingent at the world hydrogen conference in the Netherlands. I know this because my wife works at Stewart McKelvey, and she had the opportunity to meet you.
I wonder if you could provide the committee with a quick glance at the international and global opportunities for Atlantic Canada in this space for green hydrogen. Mr. Perkins talked about electricity. That could be some play for the offshore, but this is really about green hydrogen and the ability to move ammonia.
Can you quickly tell this committee what that opportunity represents?
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Having been at the world hydrogen conference, I had the chance to tell the world about Newfoundland and Labrador, the resource we have and all the things you need to make it in an economically feasible way. One of the big things is educating people on the proximity. We are closer to the Netherlands than we are to British Columbia.
The reality is that we have everything there. Let alone a world-class resource, let alone ice-free ports and let alone a workforce, we have everything there. Right now we get constant calls with regard to global opportunities.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
That's great.
Minister, the Conservatives have talked about proposed new section 56. You were very clear that in your conversations with all of those in the oil and gas industry, they have not once raised that provision as a concern to you. You were very clear that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is supportive of the oil and gas sector. Mr. Angus talked about what that represents to your province. I would suggest that any government in Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to be supportive.
Just to be very clear, you don't see proposed section 56 as being any impediment whatsoever for the future of oil and gas in your province.
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
There are two things I would say. I would reiterate that proposed section 56 has not been brought to my attention by anybody in the field or in the province as being a concern. Second, we were a part of this process and this legislation.
February 15th, 2024 / 4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Minister Rushton, I'll go back to you very quickly. This is a distinction. The Conservatives are trying to raise the prospect of a past bill, which is Bill C-69, but this is completely different. We're talking about the Atlantic accords and we're talking about a partnership whereby provincial governments actually negotiate with the Government of Canada.
Again, just to highlight that difference, this is something your government really believes in and we should be moving on as quickly as possible.
4:15 p.m.
Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Government of Nova Scotia
Certainly. I think I've elaborated quite extensively today on how important this is to Nova Scotians, to our clean energy sector and to opportunities that are sitting at our feet right now. There are many opportunities at our desk. Certainly, our government supports the amendments to this act.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
I think what I find so breathtaking is that we have two provincial governments, two provinces in Atlantic Canada, and the Atlantic accords have been so important to our region, yet the federal Conservatives know better than the duly elected members of the legislature in Nova Scotia. I don't know the situation in Newfoundland and Labrador, but certainly in my province of Nova Scotia, I have federal Conservatives from other provinces of the country who are almost suggesting that they know better than the governments in the place I call home.
I think that's astonishing. It follows the trend of the Harper government, which wanted to tear up the Atlantic accords. In my view, it is really almost gatekeeping economic opportunity in Atlantic Canada.
I just want the ministers to know this. When we get this bill through committee, I'll certainly be encouraging our House leader to move this as soon as possible, because, again, the Conservatives are standing in the way—
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
The Conservative government created the Atlantic Accord, and the Conservative government never tore it up. Sticking to truth would maybe be helpful.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Mr. Perkins, a point of order is for procedural relevance and not for debate. You can use your time for that.
Mr. Blois, you have 28 seconds. Go ahead.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Perkins is talking about the Progressive Conservatives under the Mulroney government that he was with. He stands in a vastly different type of Conservative government today.
I will say that we will try to get this through as soon as possible so that the Conservatives don't block this.
The last thing I want to say, Mr. Chair, is thank you to all the civil servants. I noted some of the folks before the call. Thank you for your work in helping to prepare this legislation. Let's hope we can get it through for Atlantic Canada.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Thank you, Mr. Blois.
We'll now go to Monsieur Simard for two and a half minutes.
The floor is yours, sir.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Simard Bloc Jonquière, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Parsons, when we left off earlier, you were saying that wind power and hydrogen conversion projects would be privately funded. However, most specialists in this area know very well that, without public funding, it's difficult to get these projects off the ground. As a result, the federal government provides tax credits for clean electricity and hydrogen. I completely agree with this. The transition will require a boost in clean energy production.
I have a fairly simple question. Do you agree with carbon pricing?
4:20 p.m.
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
When I was speaking earlier, I meant a reference to Muskrat Falls. What I would say, as it relates to the provincial government, is that we will not be subsidizing, but I do believe that federal subsidies will be required for the development of these projects. I think it's a conversation that's already happening.