Environment Committee on June 18th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I call this meeting to order.

I believe that all committee members are aware of the instructions regarding the distance between the microphone and the earpiece. For the benefit of the witnesses, and I'm sure they already know this, I will remind you that we must be very careful to maintain a certain distance between the earpiece and the microphone. When you are not using your earpiece, please place it—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Just a moment, Mr. Mazier. I haven't finished giving the instructions.

Please place the earpiece face down in the middle of the sticker.

Go ahead, Mr. Mazier.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I just noticed the minister is missing at the end of the table. I thought he was coming in today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Well, I understand you made that assumption.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Is that still a possibility?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I asked him personally if he could make it, but he is still presenting to cabinet.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

He said no.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

He said he is presenting to cabinet. He did not actually say no, but I followed up, Mr. Mazier, at your request, and—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Actually, it was the committee's request.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Yes, it was the committee's request through you.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Okay. Thank you. He's not here. Very good.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay.

We have with us officials from the department who have a lot of knowledge about the various issues that fall under the purview of the department's mandate.

We have a five-minute opening statement from Mr. Tremblay.

Mr. Tremblay, you have the floor.

[Jean-François Tremblay, Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am pleased to join the committee members today to discuss the 2024-25 main estimates for Environment and Climate Change Canada. I will provide you with an overview of our mains this year, after which my colleagues and I would be happy to answer your questions.

Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe first nation.

From coast to coast to coast, Canada is getting warmer, and it's warming twice as fast as the global average. Last year, the magnitude of the wildfires, the smoke, the length of the wildfire season and the impacts across the country contributed to making it the worst wildfire season we've had for a very long time.

For the first time in the history of our country, an entire capital, the capital of the Northwest Territories, had to be evacuated. So 20,000 people were evacuated from Yellowknife. This requires action to address the adaptation and conservation issues posed by climate change.

I will not go through the main estimates line by line, but allow me to mention a few highlights.

In all, the 2024-25 main estimates total $2.8 billion. Compared with 2023-24, it adds $314 million more.

I will mention a few differences.

One is regarding the creation of the Canada water agency. You can see reflected, in the mains, the budget 2024 decision to provide $681 million in new funding over 10 years, beginning this year, and $18.9 million ongoing to implement the freshwater action plan and establish the Canada water agency.

Another thing you will see is the new collaboration with the Canadian Climate Institute. Our mains reflect the government's decision to provide $26.7 million over five years for new contribution agreements with the Canadian Climate Institute. The objective is for the CCI to expand its work related to adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Our budget has also been adjusted to reflect an injection of $211 million, including $4.8 million for us, to ensure what we call access to high-performance computing.

This will help our department to advance science and research and prevent future conditions, including those that lead to extreme weather events. For example, by using high-performance computers, we will be able to better understand events and alert populations in real time about changes in the weather.

In the same vein, in terms of permanent funding for weather services, our main estimates include $643.5 million over 10 years and $62.3 million per year for Environment Canada's meteorological service to continue to provide Canadians with vital information 24-7 on the weather, water quantity, climate, ice and air quality across the country.

Finally, our budget includes additional funding to implement Canada's national adaptation strategy. Again, that is as a result of the decision in budget 2024.

The budget included $935.6 million, of which our department receives $637 million, to support the long-term implementation of the strategy. Of that amount, $530 million is currently in the main estimates. It is for the green municipal fund, or GMF.

There are a few highlights and variations you can see in our budget for this year. More details about those funds can be found in the main estimates documentation.

Thank you for listening. My colleagues and I will now be happy to answer your questions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Mr. Tremblay.

Thank you to all the witnesses for being here.

We'll start with Mr. Deltell.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to your Parliament. Most importantly, thank you for your service to the country in your very important role at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

First, I echo what my friend Mr. Mazier said earlier. It's really unfortunate to see that the minister isn't with us today.

Sincerely, Mr. Chair, I expected him to be here, since you were very optimistic about it last week. I find it unfortunate, all the more so because he took part in four question periods last week, he was present yesterday and today in question period, and he was unable to push back the presentation he apparently has to make to cabinet by one hour. He would have been accountable here, in a parliamentary committee. It's his responsibility, and it may not be the first on his list, but it's nevertheless very important to be accountable to the committee. He didn't respond to our request, and that's very unfortunate. Also, I don't recognize him; it seems to me he's the guy who's always willing to go to the front. We want to bring him to the front here, but he's doing everything he can to avoid it. That's too bad.

Mr. Deputy Minister, I'd like to talk to you about the minister's presence. When he appeared before the committee, the first questions I asked him concerned a trip he had taken abroad for COP27, I believe. I asked him how much his environmental bill—or should I say “ill”?—was, and what he intended to do about it when he went halfway around the world. If I remember correctly, he went to Egypt to spend long days and work very hard there for almost 14 days. With regard to the carbon footprint, he told me that the government had standards, that it was the department that took care of it, that credits were being purchased and all that.

Can you give us a few more details to explain, Mr. Tremblay, about what might appear to many to be greenwashing?

[Jean-François Tremblay]

Beyond a travel expense limit, the tonnes of emissions are calculated and the department pays an amount to Treasury Board to offset the use of transportation.

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

The department pays, not the minister.

[Jean-François Tremblay]

The department pays for it.

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

Is that the case for everyone, in all situations and for all the minister's travel?

[Jean-François Tremblay]

I would have to check, but it's normally calculated and charged to the department's budget.

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

For the last COP meeting, how much did the greenwashing cost the government or your department?

[Jean-François Tremblay]

I don't have the costs related solely to transportation, but to the overall costs related to COP28. In fact, the minister told you that it was important to be at the United Nations conference, or COP, and that it was more of an investment in the context of the effort that must be made on the international scene.

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

Yes, but it cost $13,000 for a round trip to Dubai, in the middle of the desert. I understand that we have to—

[Jean-François Tremblay]

Dubai is far away.