Marc Garneau

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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.

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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.

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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?

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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?

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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?

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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?

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

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?

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

Mr. Chair, the environment commissioner's spring report gave a scathing review of the lack of federal government oversight and management with the chemicals used in fracking.

Is there funding allocated in this year's estimates to rectify this inaction?

[BUSINESS OF SUPPLY, May 21st, 2013]

Mr. Chair, my next question deals with the fact that there are premiers in the country who are taking some initiatives. I speak about the Premier of Alberta, in particular, who is trying to work with the other provinces and has made trips to visit other premiers from other provinces and has advocated the idea of a Canadian national energy strategy, working collectively in the interests of Canada and the Council of the Federation.

I would like to ask the minister whether he believes in the concept of a national energy strategy. If he does, what action does he plan to take?