QUESTION PERIOD — Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Business of the Committee
October 30, 2025
My question is for the Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
Senator Moncion, three and a half years ago, on March 29, 2022, the Senate unanimously adopted a motion committing us to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. This commitment demonstrated global leadership and provided us with both an opportunity to learn as legislators through our actions and with the credibility to hold government to account.
The Senate contracted an external expert to benchmark emissions resulting from our activities, totalling 3,557 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2022-23. The contractor also provided a methodology to accurately measure our emissions going forward.
Accurate carbon emission measurements are increasingly incorporated into private and public sector accounting, domestically and abroad, using IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, among others.
Is the Internal Economy Committee considering integrating emissions disclosures into the Senate’s accounting processes?
Thank you, senator, for the question and for providing the question ahead of time.
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Canadian Public Sector Accounting Standards. As indicated in our external auditor’s report, our financial statements present a true and fair view and comply with the relevant standards. I also take note of the importance placed on monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and the standard views in other similar institutions.
We will continue to ensure that we apply the best practices in preparing our financial statements in accordance with current standards.
Thank you, Senator Moncion.
Digital tools enable the cost-effective completion of carbon emission accounting, and there are companies that comply with international standards that are primarily running their software off of existing financial data.
In the two years since our Advisory Working Group on Environment and Sustainability presented our report to the Internal Economy Committee, has the committee discussed this matter?
I ask that because there is no update on IntraSen over that period.
Thank you, senator.
The answer is no, we haven’t discussed it, but — and this is a comment that I will make for all senators — when you have issues such as this, please write to the committee. Write to me as chair and to Pascale Legault as clerk to ask that the item be discussed or be brought to a Senate meeting. We will take it under advisement, and we will prepare the necessary documents to really be able to look into issues that are important to senators.
