Science and Research Committee on Sept. 26th, 2024

[W. Scott Thurlow]

There are a lot of different ways of answering your question. Material sorting is a challenge. A lot of the material sorting challenges have more to do with the colour of the plastic than they do with the functionality of it or with its durability.

We can definitely have improvements on that side too. Again, I am not fussy about where we start. We have to start in all the places at the same time. Where I'm fussy is when we might make very arbitrary limitations on what would constitute a recycling process or a recovery process. I think, if we're taking waste plastic out of the waste stream and putting it back into the economy, that's a check mark.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

How much...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Valerie Bradford]

You have 10 seconds.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Okay. I was going to turn to Ms. Marshall, but....

[The Chair, Liberal, Valerie Bradford]

In the next round.... I don't know if we'll have a next round.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Valerie Bradford]

Are you done?

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Apparently.

[The Chair, Liberal, Valerie Bradford]

Thank you.

Now we will have our second round for five minutes.

MP Tochor is going to take this.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, again, to our witnesses.

Along with Mr. Cannings, I'm going to shift my questions to Ms. Marshall.

Ms. Marshall, we have heard how we're lacking in infrastructure and supports from the government. I'm thinking of the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which you would think is ideally suited for this because it addresses the lack of infrastructure in this sector.

Have you, or has any company or association, tried to access any government funding through the Canada Infrastructure Bank?

[Sarah Marshall]

Thank you for the question.

Yes, while we have spoken to the Canada Infrastructure Bank, as Nova Chemicals, we understand that the mandate does not properly include recycling plastics today. In the government's prior mandate, there was the announcement of a circular plastics recycling fund of $100 million. The industry did advocate for that, and we would certainly support looking at the CIB or at that plastics fund as opportunities to increase the infrastructure funding for collecting and processing recycled materials into plastics feedstocks.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Is that a different promise from, I believe, in 2021 when they promised $100 million for, I think, scale-up and commercialization of made-in-Canada technology? Is this a different fund or the same fund that the Liberals have not funded or set up yet?

[Sarah Marshall]

I believe that's the circular plastics innovation and infrastructure fund. That fund, to my knowledge, has not been set up.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

That's $200 million in total of infrastructure dollars promised by the Liberals and never delivered to the industry. Is that correct?

[Sarah Marshall]

My understanding was that it was $100 million pledged to the industry for the circular plastics innovation fund.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Okay.

What does Nova want the federal government to do to grow recycling innovation in Canada? We know they won't fund it through the infrastructure programs they put forward, for whatever reason. If you got one wish with these guys, what would help Nova in improving the recycling of plastics in Canada?

[Sarah Marshall]

We do our research on plastics recycling in Canada. Over 50% of our R and D budget is aimed at sustainability initiatives, including plastics recycling. For us, it's important to stimulate the innovation ecosystem in Canada. We certainly would welcome the government joining the centre of excellence for plastics recycling that we have started with Canadian universities across Canada.

In addition to that, the SR and ED program is helpful to stimulate research and development across all levels of companies in the country, and we would support looking at increased credit. I suggested in my remarks a doubling of the SR and ED credit for work on plastics recycling.

In addition, as these facilities scale, I would certainly support Mr. Thurlow's suggestion of an accelerated capital cost allowance for both pilot and commercial facilities.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

At Nova Canada, how many good-quality paycheques do you guys provide Canadians?

[Sarah Marshall]

We have about 2,000 of our 2,500 employees in Canada.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

I have just a quick yes-or-no question. I think I'm running out of time.

Are plastics toxic, yes or no?

[Sarah Marshall]

Plastics in Canada is not considered.... We do not consider that toxic and we do not believe it should be on the CEPA schedule 1.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Thank you.

Along those lines, have you heard of my private member's bill? Do you have a view on removing the label, inasmuch as we've just heard that you're against the label the Liberals have used, and the courts have ruled that the way they've tried to ban plastic is against the science and against our Constitution?

What's your view on that private member's bill?

[Sarah Marshall]

We are aligned that the process the federal government used to list plastic manufactured items on CEPA schedule 1 wasn't appropriate. As well, I think Mr. Thurlow summed that up well. We do support the approach that the federal government could take to relook at that issue.

Of course, on the remaining matter that the RPUC group, including Nova Chemicals, has before the court, I can't comment any further.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Thank you so much for your testimony today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Valerie Bradford]

Thank you.

Now we will turn to MP Longfield for five minutes, please.