THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Tuesday, September 29, 2026
(44)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources met this day at 6:35 p.m., in room B30, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Mary Coyle, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Aucoin, Coyle, Fridhandler, Galvez, Kingston, Miville-Dechêne and Youance (7).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Cardozo (1).
Participating in the meeting: Jesse Good and Emilie Lusson, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the committee began its consideration of Bill S-229, An Act to amend the National Capital Act (Gatineau Park).
WITNESSES:
The Honourable Senator Rosa Galvez, sponsor of the bill;
Sophie Chatel, Member of Parliament, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi.
The committee observed a minute of silence in memory of the Honourable Todd Lewis. The committee paid tribute to the memory of the Honourable Todd Lewis.
At 6:49 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:52 p.m., the committee resumed.
The Honourable Senator Rosa Galvez and Sophie Chatel made a statement together and answered questions.
At 7:40 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:46 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft agenda (future business).
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 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 the chair be authorized to seek authority from the Senate for the following order of reference:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources be authorized to examine and report on liquid biofuels in Canada, including, but not limited to:
(a) biofuel technology;
(b) Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations;
(c) Natural Resources Canada’s Biofuels Production Incentive;
(d) the impact of Canadian legislation and regulations on domestic biofuel production;
(e) the impact of legislation in the United States, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on Canadian biofuel producers;
(f) the import of used cooking oil;
(g) the economic potential of the Canadian biofuel industry;
(h) the economic impact of biofuels in Canada’s regions;
(i) export opportunities for Canadian biofuels;
(j) environmental impacts of biofuels; and
(k) issues for industries that are seeking to adopt biofuels, such as shipping and aviation;
That the committee be permitted, notwithstanding usual practices, to deposit reports on this study with the Clerk of the Senate if the Senate is not then sitting, and that the reports be deemed to have been tabled in the Senate; and
That the committee submit its final report to the Senate no later than October 31, 2027, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings for 180 days after the tabling of the final report.
At 8:14 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Caroline Woodward
Clerk of the Committee