THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Thursday, May 7, 2026
(35)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day at 8:01 a.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Joan Kingston, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Aucoin, Coyle, Dean, Fridhandler, Galvez, Housakos, Kingston, Lewis, McCallum, Moncion, Moreau, P.C., Verner, P.C., Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador), Wilson and Youance (15).
Participating in the meeting: Dana Fan and Emilie Doyon, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the committee continued its consideration of Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act.
WITNESSES:
Natural Resources Canada:
Laureen Chung, Director, Equipment Division;
Ben Copp, Director General, Office of Energy Efficiency;
Jean-François Roman, Legal Counsel.
The committee resumed clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-4.
Ben Copp, Laureen Chung and Jean-François Roman answered questions from time to time.
It was agreed that, pursuant to rule 10-5, the committee reconsider clause 4.
At 8:22 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:25 a.m., the committee resumed.
At 8:25 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:28 a.m., the committee resumed.
The Honourable Senator Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) moved that Bill S-4 be amended in clause 4, on page 3, by adding the following after line 17:
“(1.1) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), in relation to a commercial entity, a label affixed to an energy-using product imported into Canada or shipped from one province to another by that commercial entity is deemed to comply with the regulations if the label is affixed by the manufacturer, the importer or their agent and is not manifestly non-compliant with the regulatory requirements.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Aucoin, Fridhandler, Housakos, Lewis, McCallum, Verner, P.C., Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) — [7]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Coyle, Dean, Galvez, Kingston, Moreau, P.C., Wilson, Youance — [7]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil
The chair asked whether clause 4 shall carry.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Aucoin, Coyle, Dean, Galvez, Kingston, Moreau, P.C., Wilson, Youance — [8]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Fridhandler, Lewis, McCallum, Verner, P.C., Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) — [5]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil
It was agreed that clause 16 carry.
The chair asked whether clause 17 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) moved that Bill S-4 be amended in clause 17, on page 12, by adding the following after line 15:
“(3) In relation to a commercial entity, regulations made under this Act may prescribe requirements only with respect to the importation of an energy-using product into Canada or the shipment of an energy-using product from one province to another.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Fridhandler, Housakos, Lewis, McCallum, Verner, P.C., Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) — [6]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Aucoin, Coyle, Dean, Galvez, Kingston, Moreau, P.C., Wilson, Youance — [8]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil
It was agreed that clause 17 carry.
The chair asked whether clause 18 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Coyle moved that Bill S-4 be amended in clause 18, on page 12, by replacing line 19 with the following:
“and Renewable and Emerging Energy Sources”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Aucoin, Coyle, Fridhandler, Galvez, Housakos, Lewis, McCallum, Verner, P.C., Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) — [9]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Dean, Kingston, Moreau, P.C., Wilson — [4]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil
It was agreed that clause 18, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether clause 19 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Coyle moved that Bill S-4 be amended in clause 19, on page 12, by replacing line 27 with the following:
“accelerating energy efficiency and the use of renewable and emerging”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted, on division.
It was agreed that clause 19, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 20 carry.
It was agreed that clause 21 carry.
It was agreed that clause 22 carry.
It was agreed that clause 23 carry.
It was agreed that clause 24 carry.
The chair asked whether clause 25 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Fridhandler moved that Bill S-4 be amended in clause 25,
(a) on page 28, by deleting lines 31 to 35;
(b) on page 29, by deleting lines 1 to 10.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Fridhandler, Housakos, Lewis, McCallum, Verner, P.C., Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) — [6]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Aucoin, Coyle, Dean, Galvez, Kingston, Moreau, P.C., Wilson, Youance — [8]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil
At 9:55 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Catherine Cuerrier
Clerk of the Committee