Evidence of meeting #108 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
My question was 10 seconds long and his response was at least 30, and he wasn't even getting to my question.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John Aldag
We have five minutes on the clock. We'll go back to Mr. Zimmer for his next question.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
Your department has actually given it a number. It estimates that out of the seven million litres, there has been a reduction of 2.6 million litres of diesel or gasoline. But, again, that's an estimate, because you lack hard data.
To date, Minister, how much has the program cost taxpayers?
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
I can tell you, first of all, that northern REACHE has funded 210 projects since 2017. The preliminary work for 11 hydro projects has been funded since 2017.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
How much has this particular program cost taxpayers, Minister? That is the question.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
I can tell you that's an important part of all of our programs to fight climate change in the north.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
What's the answer to that question, Minister?
He's had enough time to attempt to answer.
According to your own department, according to your own documents, you've spent about $66 million as of 2024 on that particular program for a reduction of 2.6 million litres of gasoline or diesel. That is $66 million to make a reduction of 2.6 million litres. How much per litre is that, Minister?
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB
First of all, I question those numbers that have been put on the record.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
They're from your own department, Minister.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
They're in the 2022-23 departmental results report.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John Aldag
Mr. Zimmer, wait just a second. We have a point of order.
I am going to go to the point of order, but I would just remind people to please.... The minister was trying to respond, and some of these things require a bit of context and more than just a yes or no. I do agree that the responses need to be short.
I'll go to the point of order first, and then we'll come back.
6 p.m.
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Chair, Mr. Zimmer's two questions were about 19 and 30 seconds. The minister had three seconds before he was interrupted both times. If you want to take a look at this, I'm timing this with a lap timer right now.
6 p.m.
Conservative
6 p.m.
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
And Dan's interrupting me as we speak. Let's give it a chance.
Dan, you know you're new to this thing. We try to do things collegially here.
6 p.m.
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
We know each other. You can do this. This is what we're doing. Let's give him ample time because we have, Dan, people with hearing disabilities, who are listening in on this. Have some sympathy and sensitivity for our translators and other people.
6 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC
I already asked the question. I was waiting for an answer to the question, which he was not giving. I'll repeat the question.