Transport Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2024

[Mandy Olsgard]

It's very likely in this area, and that was a deficiency of the studies. They never identified the source of the contamination of the sediments because they never achieved delineation.

When you get access to the 2017 reports, you will see site characterization maps where they took soil samples. Where they're red, they're over guidelines. Where they're green, they're under guidelines. They are always red. No matter how far they went out in those plans, sediments were never clean or safe or below the guidelines we use in Alberta. They have to figure out why that is before they spend a lot of money remediating. It doesn't mean it doesn't need to happen, but they have to determine the source and the best path forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Ms. Olsgard.

Thank you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

Finally, for today, we have Mr. Bachrach.

The floor is yours, sir, for two and a half minutes.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have two brief questions, and then I'd like to move a motion that I hope my colleagues will support.

To the nations that are here today, aside from Transport Canada, what other departments have you contacted about dredging?

[Kendrick Cardinal]

We haven't contacted anybody about dredging, as far as I know.

I did want to mention some topics on dredging. Transport Canada has been dredging for 40 to 50 years on the Athabasca River, and dredging this thing is not a big issue, so let's get the job done. They've been dredging up and down the Athabasca River from mile one, which is in Fort McMurray at Waterways, right down to mile 200 at Fort Chipewyan. Dredging has been done without any logistics in reports or testing. They just dredged a river and did whatever they wanted. This is just another....

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Go ahead, Chief Adam, briefly.

[Chief Allan Adam]

We've been in contact with Indigenous Services Canada. We've been in contact with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans regarding emergency management. We've also been in contact with the Prime Minister's Office on this whole issue, and none of them have offered to help dredge the big dock.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Okay, thank you.

If I may, given where we're at with time, I'd like to move a motion.

One of the most concerning issues that have come up at this meeting is that in the letter received today from the Minister of Transport, she indicates her officials have been able to confirm that environmental reports describing and addressing the contamination in greater detail had been previously shared with the Mikisew Cree First Nation and Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, but the witnesses who are present today have not been able to confirm those communications at their end of things. I'm not going to ascribe motive or suggest that the communications weren't sent, but I think the minister should provide some evidence of those communications so the committee can understand how and when the communities were notified.

I would like to move:

That the committee order Transport Canada to produce by Wednesday, December 4, 2024, all communications by which the department or third parties notified the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation of environmental reports describing the contamination at “Big Dock”, as described in the minister’s Tuesday, December 3, 2024, letter.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

That is so moved, Mr. Bachrach.

I have a speaking list already. We'll go to Mr. Lawrence first.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

The Conservatives are pleased to support this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Do any members want to confer on this? Do we want it translated before we move forward? Does anybody want me to suspend for two minutes to discuss it, or is everybody copacetic?

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I'd love to see unanimous consent on this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Go ahead, Mr. Rogers.

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

I suggest we suspend for two minutes.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

That's shameful.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Okay, a member would like to suspend for two minutes.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Chair, just before we suspend, if I may just characterize.... Is it clear to everyone what we're trying to get here? We're not trying to get extensive documents and the reports and all of that stuff. We're just looking for evidence that on certain dates, the department or other third parties, like environmental consultants, indeed communicated with the nations as indicated in the minister's letter.

We're not suggesting that didn't happen. It would just be good to know when that occurred and who the information was sent to.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Colleagues, I'm going to suspend, because a member would like to confer for two minutes. We'll reconvene in two minutes. I have no intention of concluding this meeting. It's far too important.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I call this meeting back to order.

Mr. Bachrach, you had your hand up. Do you want to continue the discussion?

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to my colleagues for the conversations during the recess.

There was some indication from the government side that perhaps a bit more time would be helpful as long as the committee has the documents prior to our meeting. We settled on December 5 at 10 a.m. as being adequate time to review the documents prior to the meeting, which is scheduled, I believe, for 3.30 on Thursday.

I know I can't amend my own motion.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I'll move that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

That's moved by Mrs. Goodridge. I see a lot of nodding heads.

Colleagues, do we have unanimous consent?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Motion as amended agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Bachrach.

Colleagues, let's give a short thank you to our witnesses.

President Cardinal, Chief Adam, Councillor Tuccaro and Chief Operating Officer Courtoreille, I want to thank you so much for your time here today and for sharing your very important testimony on what is a very important study for this committee.

Of course, Ms. Olsgard, thank you for joining us virtually and lending your expertise to this study. It's greatly appreciated.

I wish you a wonderful stay in Ottawa. For those of you returning home, I wish you safe travels home.

This meeting is adjourned.