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House Hansard - 75

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 19, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)
  • May/19/22 10:31:02 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I would like to start by recognizing that the minister has been answering questions for many hours now. I respect her, and I appreciate her contributions this evening. I would like to ask about the greening government strategy, which the minister spoke about earlier. A signature commitment of this strategy is net-zero emissions by 2050. Does the minister realize that net-zero emissions by 2050 is not equivalent to our Paris commitment to limit global temperature increase to no more than 1.5°C?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi (Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.)
  • May/19/22 10:31:47 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I want to thank the hon. member for acknowledging my stamina this evening, but I am also surrounded by an amazing team, so I have great gratitude for all those who are here and, as I said previously, spread out all over in order to assist me this evening. For the work of my team, I am just so grateful. In the answers that I did give previously, I actually stated that, with the initiatives we are undertaking, we would be achieving reductions of 82% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, and we are in a very good position to achieve net zero by 2030 for our building portfolio.
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Mr. Mike Morrice
  • May/19/22 10:32:36 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I would encourage the minister to look at the science behind the climate crisis and ensure that our government's targets align with that science. This strategy was initiated in 2017 to help the federal government reduce its environmental impact and transition to low-carbon climate-resilient operations. One year later, though, in 2018, the federal government then purchased the Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5 billion. Does the government include the Trans Mountain pipeline it purchased in this strategy?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:33:11 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, with respect to PSPC, I can talk about initiatives that we are undertaking. In addition to the figures I gave on what we have done in our strategies with reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, we are also undertaking other efforts, which include procurement practices that prioritize reusable and recyclable products and our goal of net-zero plastic waste. We are going to continue also to work with our colleagues to introduce a new buy clean strategy and support and prioritize made-in-Canada, low-carbon products.
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Mr. Mike Morrice
  • May/19/22 10:33:51 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I appreciate that. The fact is, though, that we bought a pipeline. Why is TMX not part of our procurement approach?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:34:02 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I am here this evening to talk about the procurement file and on the procurement file, I say there are a number of initiatives. I have gone over those initiatives. We absolutely appreciate the crisis that we are in, and we have aggressive measures that we are taking in order to meet our commitments. We are going to continue on that path.
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Mr. Mike Morrice
  • May/19/22 10:34:26 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I appreciate those commitments. The UN Secretary-General has made clear that new fossil fuel infrastructure at this point in the climate emergency is moral and economic madness, yet the Government of Canada now estimates that the Trans Mountain pipeline and the expansion will cost $21.4 billion, including the completion of the expansion of the pipeline. Meanwhile, the minister's mandate letter includes “a new Buy Clean Strategy to support and prioritize the use of made-in-Canada low-carbon products in Canadian infrastructure projects.” How does the $21.4 billion spent buying and expanding this pipeline fit into this “buy clean” strategy?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:35:15 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, again, I have spoken about that this evening and have gone over a number of times the efforts we are making in procurement with respect to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring that we are minimizing plastic and waste. One of the other things I would like to add is electric vehicles. We know there is the ability for us to act there too, and we are. In the past three years, we have procured 1,187 zero-emission and hybrid vehicles, another area where we can show leadership and do our part with respect to meeting targets.
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Mr. Mike Morrice
  • May/19/22 10:35:54 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister see any contradiction between the buy clean strategy and the government's relentless commitment to its purchase and expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:36:11 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I am very happy that we have a buy clean strategy. In addition to that, we have a national clean electricity initiative. We have an energy services acquisition program. We have many initiatives that we are undertaking as a government, because it is important for us to meet our targets and we want to show leadership in this regard.
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Mr. Mike Morrice
  • May/19/22 10:36:34 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, in budget 2022, the federal government announced that Public Services and Procurement Canada “will develop new tools, guidelines, and targets to support the adoption of green procurement across the federal government”. How does the recently announced $10-million loan guarantee for the Trans Mountain pipeline fit into this new commitment?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:36:57 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, we are focusing on doing what we can in procurement in order to contribute to meeting the targets that are there. This is an all-of-government approach. PSPC has a role to play. I have gone over the numbers with respect to initiatives that we are taking in order to meet our targets, and this work is significant.
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Mr. Mike Morrice
  • May/19/22 10:37:23 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I do appreciate the role that PSPC has to play and the work that the minister is doing in it. My final question is this: How are we to trust any of these strategies and commitments, though, in light of the reality of the same commitments to expanding and building the Trans Mountain pipeline?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:37:44 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I would put forward the stat that we have accomplished to date as evidence of the initiatives that we are taking and the progress we are making, which is a 57.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from our buildings as compared to the baseline laid out in 2005-06. We are going to continue to work on these and other important initiatives in PSPC in order to reach the targets.
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Mr. Mike Morrice
  • May/19/22 10:38:14 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I thank the minister for her genuine contribution to this conversation. I will cede the rest of my time to the member for Courtenay—Alberni.
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Ms. Lori Idlout (Nunavut, NDP)
  • May/19/22 10:38:27 p.m.
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Qujannamiik, Iksivautaq, Iksivautaq meaning “chair”. I will be splitting my time with the member for Courtenay—Alberni. My first set of questions will be regarding Canada Post. Does the minister know how many post offices are operated in Nunavut?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi (Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.)
  • May/19/22 10:38:48 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I do not know the exact number, but I am happy to provide that number to the member.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:38:59 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister know what percentage of post offices in Canada are in indigenous communities?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 10:39:10 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I am really pleased about the pilot we are running in an indigenous community in Canada. This is a hub. It is going to add extra resources and innovative supports. I am looking forward to the results of that pilot.
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Ms. Lori Idlout
  • May/19/22 10:39:27 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, does the minister know how many banks are operated in Nunavut?
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