THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 26, 2026
(36)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day at 6:31 p.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, Moncion, Pupatello, Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador), Wilson and Youance (13).
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:
Ben Copp, Director General, Office of Energy Efficiency;
Jamie Hulan, Senior Director, Equipment and Housing, Office of Energy Efficiency;
Jean-François Roman, Legal Counsel.
The committee resumed clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-4.
Ben Copp and Jamie Hulan answered questions from time to time.
After debate, it was agreed that, pursuant to rule 10-5, the committee reconsider clauses 18 and 19.
The Honourable Senator Coyle moved that Bill S-4 be amended, in clause 18, as agreed to by the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources on May 7, 2026, by replacing the words “Renewable and” with the words “Renewable or”.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 18, as amended, carry.
The Honourable Senator Coyle moved that Bill S-4 be amended in clause 19, as agreed to by the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources on May 7, 2026, by replacing the words “renewable and” with the words “renewable or”.
The question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 19, as amended, carry.
The Honourable Senator Coyle moved that Bill S-4 be amended, in clause 25, on page 30, by replacing lines 26 to 29 with the following:
“tent to which selected energy efficiency standards prescribed under this Act are as stringent as comparable standards. Those comparable standards can be established by a province, the United Mexican States, the United States, or any other national or subnational jurisdiction.”.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
The Honourable Senator Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) moved that Bill S-4 be Amended, in clause 25, on page 30, by replacing lines 30 to 33 with the following:
“58 (1) The Minister shall, five years after the day on which this section comes into force and every five years after that, undertake a review of this Act and its administration and operation, including an assessment of
(a) its effect on commercial entities;
(b) the exemptions provided for under sections 25 to 25.7;
(c) the corrective measures provided for under sections 26 to 26.2; and
(d) the administrative monetary penalties provided for under sections 37 to 54.”.
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, Wells (Newfoundland and Labrador) and Youance — [8]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Dean, Kingston, Pupatello and Wilson — [4]
ABSTENTIONS
Nil
It was agreed that clause 25, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that clause 26 carry.
It was agreed that clause 27 carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill carry, as amended.
It was agreed that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make necessary technical, grammatical or other required non-substantive changes resulting from the amendments adopted by the committee, in both official languages, including updating cross-references and renumbering of provisions.
At 7:26 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:31 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.
It was agreed that the committee allow the audio recording and/or transcription of the in camera portion of today’s meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members and/or their staff, and that the audio recording and/or transcription be destroyed by the clerk of the committee when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.
It was agreed that observations be appended to the committee’s report.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations being appended to the report, in both official languages, taking into consideration today’s discussion, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes as required.
It was agreed that the chair report Bill S-4, with amendments and with observations, to the Senate, in both official languages, at the earliest opportunity.
At 7:42 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Catherine Cuerrier
Clerk of the Committee