Debates of May 21st, 2013

Natural Resources—Main Estimates, 2013-14

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Chair, how much time do I have left?

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

You have two seconds.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Chair, that is fantastic. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and many thanks to the member for the answer.

It is clear the government is taking significant action to ensure that pipeline safety in Canada is, of course, very high. One would expect that the opposition would be supportive of the measures that were being put forward. They are so important to Canada and to the safe transport of oil and natural gas across our country.

I would like to ask the minister if he can share with us the position that the opposition parties have taken on these important issues.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, I appreciate this question and welcome the opportunity to put on record the opposition's position on these important measures.

While common sense would dictate that both the NDP and the Liberals would have supported the increased safety measures that our government introduced, unfortunately, it is not surprising that these measures were not supported by the opposition parties. Both the Liberals and the NDP voted against increasing pipeline inspections by 50%. They voted against doubling the number of comprehensive audits. They voted against imposing new fines for companies that do not follow our environmental laws. This is unfortunately a pattern with the opposition. It opposes any measure to make resource development even safer, as it would rather not have development at all.

Our government is the only government that will take serious steps to improve pipeline safety across the country. I have full confidence that pipeline companies will continue to ensure that pipelines meet the NEB's strict safety standards. This is not only a substantive issue. It is also an issue of gaining the confidence of the public, the so-called social licence. We must proceed with these world-class safety measures for pipelines and for maritime safety, both because it is the right thing to do and because we want to protect Canadians and the environment.

We also want to communicate clearly to the Canadian population that we are taking these actions in order to achieve the social license to permit us to develop these resources for the benefits of Canadians right across the country.

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

The hon. member only has less than 30 seconds, so a quick question and a quick answer.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the minister for his hard work when he travels to Washington or other places outside of Canada to engage other countries in the benefits of Canadian natural resources.

Could he contrast that with some of the ridiculous positions and messages that have been in the media about what other parties, particularly the NDP, have taken on their anti-trade missions?

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

I am afraid that the minister is out of time. We will move on.

The hon. member for Westmount—Ville-Marie has the floor.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, I will continue with questions.

In the 2013-14 main estimates, $5.6 million is allotted to the National Energy Board for what is called “heightened public awareness”. How much of that $5.6 million is allotted to advertising?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, I believe that question was answered, but I am happy to repeat it.

As reflected in the main estimates, $5 million is dedicated to increasing the inspections for pipelines from 100 to 150 and doubling the amount of annual audits. An amount of $600,000 was devoted to the issue of communication.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, in the main estimates, the budgetary expenditures for AECL is $211.1 million for this fiscal year. In the supplementary estimates, the government is now asking for another $260 million, which is even more than the original amount in the main estimates.

I note that AECL has spent almost $620 million to date in the 2012-13 estimates. Why has there been such poor planning with the original main estimates?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, AECL funding for its nuclear laboratories in the 2013-14 main estimates has remained constant at $102 million. As has been the case in recent years, and in the context of the ongoing restructuring, AECL has required additional funding to meet its ongoing operational requirements.

This year, budget 2013 provided AECL with $141 million, over two years, on an accrual basis. This funding will enable AECL to ensure the production of medical isotopes, health and safety upgrades and environmental protection.

Additionally, AECL continues to receive statutory funding for addressing legal obligations relating to the divestiture of its former CANDU reactor division. These requirements are decreasing, and $109 million was provided for AECL in—

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

The hon. member for Westmount—Ville-Marie.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, how many projects were submitted to the National Energy Board for study in 2012?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, this is a matter for the National Energy Board. It is public on their site, or it will be at the appropriate time.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, I am talking about 2012. I would think that information would be available, and that the Minister of Natural Resources, who has responsibility for it, should be aware of it.

Let me proceed with my next question. What specific action is the government taking with Enbridge on the 83 pump stations that do not have an emergency off button and the 117 pumping stations that do not have backup power in case of a pipeline leak?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I mentioned in response to a previous question, the National Energy Board is looking at this issue and will ensure that Enbridge takes the appropriate corrective action that the NEB requires.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, I assume that means NEB will tell them that they must have backup power at each of the pumping stations and they must also have an emergency off button in the case that they leak.

For my next question, can the minister list any research funded by the government, or that will be funded in main estimates, that addresses the behaviour of dilbit, or diluted bitumen, in the environmental conditions likely to be found on B.C.'s north coast, i.e., cold saline water which is an environment where the winds, the swells, and the currents can be quite extreme?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, there has been extensive research indicating that the corrosiveness of diluted bitumen is no greater than that of light crude. However, it is part of the plan to continue to conduct further research in that connection. The research will relate to non-conventional petroleum products such as diluted bitumen, but beyond that to enhancing understanding of how these substances behave when spilled in a marine environment, including in the north.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, obviously at the beginning the minister did not understand my question. He was thinking that I was referring to what happens to dilbit in pipelines themselves and then later on said there will be studies about what happens.

Considering the northern gateway pipeline and the possible implications, I would like to ask him again, very specifically, this question: does the government know what happens to dilbit if there is a major spill in the north Pacific Ocean?

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member opposite for not only asking the question but repeating my answer to it.

We are conducting research on offshore maritime safety—in other words, the performance of dilbit in ocean waters—as well as the studies we have done in respect of pipelines, because both are relevant to security. Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans and NRCan together are working on those issues.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, if research is being conducted, let me ask the minister what happens to dilbit if it is spilled in large amounts in the Hecate Strait.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, neither I nor the member opposite is a scientist. I said they are conducting research. How would I know what the precise results of that research would be?

We have recently tabled a new bill, the safeguarding Canada's seas and skies act, that would require terminal facilities to submit pollution prevention plans, to streamline penalties so polluters can be fined, to empower Transport Canada inspectors to remove legal barriers that would otherwise—

[The Chair, NDP, Joe Comartin]

The hon. member for Westmount—Ville-Marie.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Mr. Chair, can I ask the minister what research is specifically being done at the moment by the government, and by whom, on the effects of dilbit being spilled into the north Pacific? He says it is under way. I would like to know who is doing it.

[Joe Oliver, Conservative, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Chair, it really is strange. The member listens to some of my answers and repeats them, but he seems to miss others.

Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans and NRCan are looking at these issues. I can repeat that, if you would like, or would you prefer to repeat it?