Question Period Notes
About this information
In accordance with the Access to Information Act, the government proactively publishes the package of question period notes that were prepared by a government institution for the minister and that were in use on the last sitting day in June and December.
The question period notes may be partially or fully redacted in accordance with the legislation; for example, if the notes contain information related to national security or personal information. (Learn more about exemptions and exclusions.)
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Nuclear energy is a non-emitting source of electricity that both the International Energy Agency and UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change see as important in meeting Paris Agreement climate targets. It is an important part of Canada’s clean energy mix, providing 15 percent of our energy supply. Canadian growth in the sector is currently sustained by a $26 billion refurbishment of 10 nuclear reactors in Ontario, while Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are emerging as a next-generation nuclear technology that promises to be smaller, safer, and more cost-effective than traditional nuclear power. A number of provinces, territories, and their utilities are exploring opportunities to advance SMR projects.
The Government of Canada has committed to undertaking a review of its radioactive waste policy. At the same time, Canada’s radioactive waste owners are advancing projects for the safe, long-term management of their radioactive wastes. These initiatives have attracted public and media interest.
Energy demand continues to rise and energy efficiency is a proven tool to reduce emissions while stimulating economic activity.
Individuals and non-governmental environmental organizations have expressed concerns about the safety of oil and gas pipelines in Canada. The Minister may be questioned on recent or historical pipeline spills.
The government is working to ensure that the oil and gas sector remains competitive and an attractive place to invest following a difficult spring and summer for the sector. Many factors contributed to the difficulties faced by the sector, including a collapse in oil prices in March, reduced demand for hydrocarbons, and the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health measures.
On April 17, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $1.72 billion in funding to the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan to support the decommissioning and remediation of inactive wells. This included a $200 million repayable loan to Alberta’s Orphan Well Association. These measures will help retain and create thousands of jobs that will have lasting environmental benefits.
Offshore oil and gas activity in Atlantic Canada, including exploratory drilling, is of concern to Canadians given the need for careful management and oversight to protect workers and prevent oil spills. In addition, the dual impact of low oil prices and COVID-19 has resulted in a unified call from offshore industry players and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for federal assistance during the global pandemic.
Canada has a critical opportunity to develop its liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry to directly access world markets for gas exports, to finance its transition to a low carbon economy, to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and to support global action on climate change by displacing higher emitting fuels – including LNG from other producers. Challenges from fossil fuel project opponents, uncertainty over the outcomes of regulatory review processes, and shifting market conditions pose risks to potential investments worth billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs in Canada, despite proponents’ efforts across 11 proposed projects to develop an LNG industry that would be the lowest emitting in the world.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently released a sustainable recovery report in June 2020 analyzing the pandemic’s impacts on the global energy system. On October 13, 2020, it will release its annual publication of the World Energy Outlook (WEO), which will provide an update of energy demand and supply projections to 2040 based on different scenarios, taking into account the impacts of COVID-19 and the near-term actions that could accelerate the global clean energy transition.
The Government of Canada approved the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project in June 2019, because it is in the public interest. The project is subject to 156 binding conditions by the Canada Energy Regulator. The government is implementing additional measures, including accommodations to address the potential impacts of the project on Indigenous rights and other concerns.