QUESTION PERIOD — Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Business of the Committee
October 27, 2026
My question is for the Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration. Senator Loffreda, in March 2022, the Senate unanimously adopted an Environmental and Sustainability Policy Statement that committed to reducing the Senate’s carbon footprint to net zero by 2030. The Senate’s net-zero ambition demonstrates leadership, helps us to understand what is required to achieve net zero and gives us the credibility to hold the government to account.
The Internal Economy Committee contracted experts to create an inventory of our emissions and a suite of proposals to achieve net zero. Some initiatives came at an extra cost, some at no cost, and others at cost savings. The final report was never released publicly, and the Senate has yet to take any action after four years. It’s now 2026, almost 2027. Does the committee intend to fulfill the Senate’s unanimous commitment to ourselves and Canadians?
Thank you, Senator Deacon, for your question and for your leadership on this issue. Let me thank you for the report and to everyone who contributed to this important work.
As Chair of the Internal Economy Committee, I take that commitment seriously, alongside our responsibility to manage public funds prudently.
The emissions inventory published in 2023 provides a foundation for assessing our environmental footprint. Any further measures should be evaluated against their expected emission reductions, their costs, their potential savings and operational requirements.
I must nonetheless respect the confidentiality of in camera proceedings and cannot speak to those deliberations. The committee makes its decisions collectively. My approach is to encourage practical, measurable progress with environmental responsibility, fiscal discipline and accountability guiding our —
Thank you, senator.
Thanks very much. I didn’t hear a yes or a no, but we have made a commitment.
We have seen the Quebec National Assembly agree to an option of purchasing carbon credits. We have options on the table that could reduce our costs, enabling funds to be freed up to purchase carbon credits. There have been 41 new senators since we made this commitment, who, I think, would be very interested in seeing progress on this issue. But perhaps we need to bring this issue back to this chamber. Maybe that’s an opportunity for us.
Thank you for the question. As I said, the committee takes its decisions collectively. As the Internal Economy Committee, our role is to provide direction while balancing many institutional priorities and responsibilities. Our focus is ensuring that any future actions are grounded in current realities, affordability and responsible stewardship of public resources.
As is often the case with institutional initiatives of this scale, implementation requires careful assessment of costs, operational impacts, feasibility and priorities. Thank you for your question.
