Debates of Nov. 19th, 2024

Question No.3010—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

With regard to the announcement made by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry on June 6, 2024, that effective immediately Sustainable Development Technology Canada funding would resume under reinforced contribution agreements with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): for each agreement, what (i) is the name of the company with which it was signed, (ii) is the name of the project that is receiving funding, (iii) is the projected environmental benefit that is expected from the project, (iv) is the projected emission reduction that is expected from the project, (v) is the total cost of the project, (vi) is the total amount of funding announced, (vii) is the total amount of funding distributed thus far, (viii) is the total amount of funding received for the project from other granting agencies managed by ISED, (ix) are the criteria considered to be eligible for a project?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

Mr. Speaker, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, ISED, maintains a single reinforced contribution agreement, CA, with the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology, SDTC, due to the arm’s-length nature of the organization. SDTC was set up by Parliament to deliver funding to eligible recipients under a further distribution of a contribution funding model, and as such, ISED is not a party to the funding agreements between SDTC and ultimate recipients, that is, clean technology companies.

ISED has a CA with SDTC for the SD tech fund. The goal of the SD tech fund is to advance clean technology innovation in Canada, specifically by funding and supporting technology projects at the pre-commercial development and demonstration stages. SD tech fund funding is distributed to projects named in individual funding agreements that SDTC maintains with project proponents.

As per the CA, the two main objectives of the SD tech fund are to contribute to achieving Canada’s environmental objectives, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, and contribute to Canada’s sustainable economic growth by enabling Canadian entities to compete globally in the clean technology sector.

ISED’s CA with SDTC does not include projected emission reductions expected from individual projects funded under the SD tech fund.

The federal contribution to the SD tech fund under the reinforced contribution agreement for 2021-26 totals $547,621,802, inclusive of the amounts already disbursed to SDTC.

Since 2001, funding announced for the SD tech fund has totalled $2.1 billion and is as follows: $100 million over five years in 2001, $250 million over five years in 2004, $200 million over five years in 2005, $40 million over two years in 2011, $325 million over five years in 2013, $50 million over four years in 2016, $400 million over five years in 2017 and $750 million over five years in 2020, not all of which has been disbursed.

Since its inception, the Government of Canada has disbursed $1,476,941,199 to SDTC.

Federal funding for the SD tech fund does not include funding from other granting agencies managed by ISED.

Project eligibility criteria for the SD tech fund, as outlined in ISED’s CA with SDTC, include projects carried on or primarily carried on in Canada by an ultimate recipient to develop and demonstrate new technologies to promote sustainable development, such as technologies related to energy end-use in sectors such as transportation and buildings; technologies related to capture and storage, utilization and storage and more efficient technologies shown to result in a net reduction in greenhouses gases;

Technologies related to renewable energy and low-carbon fuel production and related technologies; greenhouse gas emissions reduction technologies related to areas other than energy production and use; air quality improvement technologies; enabling or crosscutting technologies, including sensors and controls, energy efficiency, monitoring and data-enabled solutions; water quality and quantity improvement technologies, including wastewater treatment technologies and water conservation technologies; waste management technologies, including those designed to prevent, reduce or eliminate solid waste generation or discharge, as well as materials recovery processes;

Soil quality improvement technologies, including the remediation of contaminants in soil and sediments; technologies related to the protection, management and restoration of natural systems; technologies related to sustainable agriculture and food production, such as precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, indoor farming and alternative protein production; and front end development work, associated with technologies listed above, that will lead to final investment decisions for high capital-intensive projects.

Question No.3019—

[Tako Van Popta, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

With regard to the Lytton Homeowner Resilient Rebuild Program: (a) how much money has been distributed through the program to date; (b) how many recipients have received funding through the program; (c) what was the average payment amount received; and (d) how many applications have been received to date?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), for the Lytton homeowner resilient rebuild program, Pacific Economic Development Canada, or PacifiCan, distributed $5,000 between May 31, 2023, and September 27, 2024. To receive the fire-resilient or fire-resilient and net-zero homes grants, the homeowner is required to complete home construction and meet all stated program requirements. As of September 27, 2024, two recipients were in the process of home rebuilding but had not yet achieved the requirement of completing home construction.

With regard to part (b), as of September 27, 2024, a total amount of $477,856 has been committed toward six recipients.

With regard to part (c), the average payment to participants is $5,000 as of September 27, 2024. The average is expected to be $79,643 once grants are distributed.

With regard to part (d), as of September 27, 2024, PacifiCan received seven applications. The program will continue to accept applications until March 31, 2026, to help ensure as many eligible homeowners as possible can access the program on their rebuild timelines.

Question No.3024—

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

With regard to the Indigenous Health Equity Fund for fiscal year 2024-25: (a) what are the details of all distinctions-based funding supports delivered to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, including the (i) name of the community or Nation, (ii) amount of funding delivered, (iii) program authority under which the funding was authorized; (b) what is the total number of applications for distinctions-based funding that were (i) received, (ii) approved, (iii) denied; (c) what are the details of all targeted initiatives that received funding, including the (i) community or organization name, (ii) amount of funding delivered or approved, (iii) initiative or approach funded; and (d) what is the total number of applications for targeted initiatives that were (i) received, (ii) approved, (iii) denied?

[Jenica Atwin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, starting in 2024-25, the Government of Canada is providing $2 billion over 10 years, or $200 million annually, through the indigenous health equity fund in support of indigenous-led approaches to increase access to quality and culturally safe health care services. Since it was announced in 2023-24, Indigenous Services Canada, ISC, has been working with first nations, Inuit and Métis partners on its design and implementation. As a result, this funding has two components. First, there is distinctions-based funding, which means long-term, predictable and flexible support for first nations, Inuit and Métis health priorities, at approximately $190 million annually. Second, there is targeted initiatives funding, which means short-term support to indigenous organizations for innovative, activity-driven and crosscutting indigenous health priorities, at approximately $10 million annually.

With respect to distinctions-based funding, this funding support is being distributed annually as follows: $142.5 million for first nations, $28.5 million for Inuit and $19 million for Métis. For first nations, funding is being distributed on the basis of population, with adjustments for community size and remoteness. For Inuit, allocations to the four Inuit treaty organizations are being provided as per the direction of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s board of directors, which is consistent with the Inuit Nunangat policy. For Métis, allocations to the Manitoba Métis Federation and current governing members of the Métis National Council are being provided as per their historical resolution on funding distribution.

With respect to implementation, it is important to note that the administration of funding is shared between ISC and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, with the former responsible for the distribution of funding to first nations and administration of the targeted initiatives program, and with the latter responsible for the distribution of funding to modern treaty and self-governing first nations, Inuit and Métis. While funding is currently in the process of being distributed to some partners, both departments are continuing to have discussions with regional indigenous leadership on how best to distribute this funding to their communities, which is respecting the principle of indigenous self-determination. Once these discussions conclude, funding will be fully transferred pending receipt of their implementation plans, which will provide both departments a sense of their priorities in health.

With respect to targeted initiatives, the program launched a call for proposal process on June 3, 2024. The deadline for submissions was July 31, 2024. Through this process, the program received nearly 60 proposals totalling more than $24 million. The department is finalizing its review, and decisions on funding are expected by the end of October. As a result, it would be premature to provide information on who submitted plans at this point in time. More information on specific projects that will be funded under this program will be forthcoming once decisions are finalized and communicated respectively with indigenous organizations.

Question No.3026—

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

With regard to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriScience Program Clusters Component, broken down by year for each of the last ten fiscal years: (a) which organizations applied for funding through the program; and (b) how much was (i) requested, (ii) received, by each organization in (a)?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, AAFC, which includes the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, undertook a preliminary search in order to determine the amount of information that would fall within the scope of the question and the amount of time that would be required to prepare a comprehensive response. The information requested is not systematically tracked in a centralized database. AAFC concluded that producing and validating a comprehensive response to this question would require a manual collection of information that is not possible in the time allotted and could lead to the disclosure of incomplete and misleading information.

Question No.3031—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

With regard to the government’s announcement on September 27, 2023, that it would provide $14 million to help Afghan refugees and host communities impacted by flooding in Pakistan: (a) what is the breakdown of the $14 million, including how much went to (i) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), (ii) the World Health Organization (WHO), (iii) other recipients, including how much each received; (b) what are the details of the amount that went to the UNHCR, including (i) which specific projects it funded, (ii) how much funding each project received, (iii) who administered the project; (c) what are the details of the amount that went to the WHO, including (i) which specific projects it funded, (ii) how much funding each project received, (iii) who administered the project; and (d) what specific oversights were in place to ensure that the funding was spent appropriately and did not end up in the hands of the Taliban or other groups that were not intended to receive the funding?

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada, GAC, ministers.

With regard to part (a), on September 27, 2023, the Government of Canada publicly announced funding for two development assistance projects, valued at a total of $14 million, in support of Afghan refugees and host-communities impacted by the 2022 flood crisis in Pakistan. Of the total $14 million announced, $10 million in development assistance funding was provided by the Government of Canada and directly received by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, for project implementation efforts within Pakistan. Of the total $14 million announced, $4 million in development assistance funding was provided by the Government of Canada and directly received by the World Health Organization, WHO, for project implementation efforts within Pakistan. None of the $14 million announced by the Government of Canada was provided to or received by other recipients.

With regard to part (b), the funds provided to UNHCR by the Government of Canada supported essential services for Afghan refugees and host communities grappling with the flood crisis in Pakistan. The $10 million in development assistance funded a bilateral Government of Canada project entitled “Essential Services to Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Pakistan”. The Government of Canada allocated the full $10 million in development funding to this project. It is fully administered directly by UNHCR in Pakistan.

With regard to part (c), the development funding provided by the Government of Canada to WHO was in support of health services to Afghan refugees and host communities in flood affected areas in Pakistan. The $4 million in development assistance supported the project entitled “Health Assistance for Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Pakistan”. This project received the full $4 million allocation. It is administered directly by WHO in Pakistan.

With regard to part (d), project funds were directly provided by the Government of Canada to UNHCR and WHO for programming delivered to support Afghan refugees and host-communities located within Pakistan. Global Affairs Canada exercises due diligence to oversee and monitor project implementation and delivery to ensure the effective use of Canadian funds for approved purposes. These efforts include, but are not limited to, visiting project implementation sites in Pakistan, meeting with project partners and beneficiaries in Pakistan and requiring that programing partners provide the Government of Canada with project financial and results reporting. In addition, the Government of Canada includes anti-terrorism clauses in its funding agreements with humanitarian and development partners to prevent funds from being diverted.

The links referenced are as follows. The Government of Canada news release, NR, project announcement, dated September 27, 2023, is at https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2023/09/canada-announces-funding-to-help-afghan-refugees-and-host-communities-impacted-by-last-years-flooding-in-pakistan.html. Global Affairs Canada’s project browser link for UNHCR implemented project information, last updated in September 2024, is at https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p012289001. Global Affairs Canada’s project browser link for WHO implemented project information, last updated in September 2024, is at https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p011526001.

Question No.3033—

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

With regard to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): (a) how does IRCC use artificial intelligence (AI) in the processing of applications; (b) what concerns or issues about the use of AI in the processing of applications is IRCC aware of, and how has each one of those concerns or issues been addressed; and (c) does IRCC use AI in any circumstances outside of the processing of applications and, if so, how is it used?

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, uses advanced analytics, AA; artificial intelligence, AI; and other non-AI-based automated decision support systems to identify routine applications for streamlined processing and make positive decisions on these applications, as well as to perform other functions, such as the sorting of applications based on common characteristics and flagging potential risk factors that may then be investigated by an officer.

This enables IRCC to automate some processing steps for routine applications. By leveraging technology, IRCC is able to direct officer resources toward more complex applications and increase the efficiency of our processing.

These systems do not use opaque AI, do not automatically learn or adjust on their own and are not used to refuse any applications, recommend refusing applications or deny entry to Canada. IRCC does not use any external generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, in support of decision-making on client applications. IRCC officers remain central to immigration processing and continue to exercise their authority and discretion in decision-making.

With regard to part (b), IRCC is aware that the use of AI in the processing of applications raises concerns related to bias, transparency, privacy, accuracy, reliability, etc.

At this time, none of IRCC’s automated decision support tools, including those that have been developed with AA and AI, can refuse an application, nor can they recommend a refusal to an officer. All final decisions to refuse applications are made by officers after individualized assessments of a file. Officers are provided with training on IRCC’s automated decision support systems in order to ensure they understand that a lack of an automated approval does not constitute a recommendation to refuse an application.

To address AI concerns or issues, IRCC follows the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, TBS, directives and conducts algorithmic impact assessments, AIA, for all relevant automated processes and tool systems that play a role in administrative decision-making, whether these systems use AI or not. The AIA is a Government of Canada governance process intended to assist in determining risk and mitigate potential negative impacts of automated decision-making systems.

The department has developed detailed guidance, which includes a policy playbook on automated support for decision-making, to help consider how these technologies can be used responsibly, effectively and efficiently. IRCC has also established an internal governance framework to ensure that AI support tools go through a rigorous review and approval process, which includes coordination with legal experts, policy experts and privacy experts.

Furthermore, IRCC has endorsed its comprehensive AI strategy, which is being finalized to be published in the coming months. This strategy outlines the department’s responsible approach to AI adoption, and places a significant emphasis on implementing strong AI governance while integrating new policies, guidelines and best practices.

With regard to part (c), IRCC uses AI beyond application processing: IRCC is piloting AI for fraud detection, for triaging client emails to provide faster replies and for aiding research and policy development. IRCC also uses AI-powered computer vision to help validate identities, to crop passport photos and, for the online citizenship test, to prevent cheating. IRCC uses natural language processing to categorize client enquiries, freeing officers for client support, which powers QUAID, a chatbot for handling general enquiries with pre-set responses. Lastly, IRCC has opened up public generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and CoPilot, for employees to use for personal productivity regarding drafting emails, translation, drafting presentations, etc., and has provided guidance to employees aligned to the TBS policy on the use of generative AI for personal productivity.

In alignment with the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act, IRCC has drafted internal guidance on the use of generative artificial intelligence in application processing. Employees have been clearly informed that entering personal, sensitive, classified and protected information into external AI tools is non-compliant with the Privacy Act and IRCC’s approach. Additionally, IRCC is educating employees and following TBS’s newly published “Generative AI in your daily work” directive, found at https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/digital-government/digital-government-innovations/responsible-use-ai/generative-ai-your-daily-work.html, which describes how generative AI should and should not be used.

Question No.3036—

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

With regard to the Prime Minister’s announcement that Mark Carney would chair the Prime Minister’s task force on economic growth, has the government: (a) received a list of who are the other members of the task force, and, if so, who are they; (b) been made aware of the dates the task force met, and, if so, on what dates; and (c) been provided with recommendations that the task force made related to economic growth, and, if so, what were the recommendations?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water]

Mr. Speaker, the individual named in the Order Paper question has not been appointed to any Government of Canada roles since October 2007, when he was appointed as Governor of the Bank of Canada by the Hon. Jim Flaherty, the then minister of finance.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, if the Government's response to Questions Nos. 2999 to 3002, 3004 to 3009, 3011 to 3018, 3020 to 3023, 3025, 3027 to 3030, 3032, 3034, 3035, 3037 and 3038 could be made for orders for return, these returns would be tabled in an electronic format immediately.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No.2999—

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

With regard to government funding for Équiterre, since November 4, 2015, broken down by department or agency: (a) what are the details of each instance where the government provided funding to Équiterre, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) amount, (iii) type of funding (grant, loan, contract, etc.), (iv) details of the funding agreement, (v) purpose of the funding; and (b) for each funding instance that was in the form of a contract, was the contract awarded through a sole-sourced or competitive bid process?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3000—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

With regard to government assistance available to clients of the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: (a) what is the duration of the program from a client’s date of arrival in Canada to its end; (b) what are the criteria for determining the duration of the program for each client; (c) what are the criteria required for extending the duration of the program, and for how long can it be extended; (d) what are the criteria for determining the allowance amount for each client; (e) what is the total possible amount of the monthly allowance per client category; (f) what is the total possible amount of monthly allowance under the employment incentive policy of the RAP program per client category; (g) what is the total amount to which RAP recipients are entitled per month through the child tax benefit per client category; (h) what is the total amount to which recipients are entitled per month through the RAP housing top-up allowance per client category; (i) what is the total amount of the start-up allowance entitled to clients of the program, broken down by client category; and (j) what are the minimum and maximum allowances of other sources of income available to RAP clients, broken down by client category and type of income?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3001—

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

With regard to federally-funded salmon hatcheries in British Columbia, the Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador: (a) how many federally-funded salmon hatcheries are currently in operation in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (b) what has been the yearly amount of federal funding spent on hatcheries, broken down by each of the last five years, in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (c) how many salmon smolts were released in total from these hatcheries, broken down by each of the last five years, in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (d) for each of the next five years, how many additional hatcheries are planned for (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (e) for each of the next five years, how many additional salmon smolts will be released in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; and (f) for each of the next five years, how much additional spending will be required for the additional hatcheries, broken down by each of the regions in (d)?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3002—

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

With regard to information held by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on Northern cod, Greenland halibut and redfish: (a) for Northern cod, what is the average catch rate (i) per net per hour in a 5.5 inch mesh in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization's (NAFO) areas 2J, 3K and 3L in kilograms, (ii) per hook used in NAFO areas 2J, 3K and 3L in kilograms, broken down by area in each of the last five years, based on fish harvester logbook submissions; (b) for Greenland halibut, what (i) is the average catch rate per net per hour in NAFO areas 2J, 3K and 3L in gill nets broken down by area in each of the last five years, (ii) percentage of migratory area is within Canadian waters compared to NAFO waters outside Canada's 200 mile limit, (iii) percentage of the quota is issued to the Canadian fleet vs NAFO allocation, (iv) has the biomass been for each of the last five years for the stock inside and outside Canada's 200 mile limit; and (c) for redfish, what is the biomass in NAFO areas 2J and 3K in each of the last seven years, broken down by area and year?

(Return tabled)