QUESTION PERIOD — Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Business of the Committee
October 24, 2024
My question is for Senator Moncion, the chair of the Internal Economy Committee, or CIBA. I asked you previously when senators would see the latest report from the consulting group charged with helping the Senate set a greenhouse gas target, calculate projections and provide recommendations on establishing an action plan for the Senate’s path to net zero.
On March 29, 2022, the Senate unanimously adopted the Environmental and Sustainability Policy Statement with the objective of “. . . reducing the Senate’s carbon footprint to net zero by 2030 and to implement sustainable practices in its operations.”
Senator Moncion, you said:
I’m unable to discuss everything related to this file publicly, as some ongoing discussions regarding this matter were held in camera due to their sensitive nature. . . .
Senator Moncion, why all the secrecy?
Thank you for the question. CIBA made a decision about the publication of the report, and the rationale was discussed in camera. I cannot, therefore, disclose that information. I can say that it touches managerial decisions from an employer’s perspective and touches on internal operations. The members of CIBA consulted the report in that capacity as the employer. So I can’t go any further, senator, with that information.
Well, that’s puzzling. The first consultant report clearly identified the two main sources of the Senate’s greenhouse gas emissions as being from heating our Senate buildings and from senators’ travel. You mentioned administration was working on potential initiatives last time: bicycles, reducing paper.
Senator Moncion, when will we see the latest report we paid for so we can see for ourselves serious options for fulfilling our Senate net-zero commitments?
Again, I am not at liberty of providing the report. It was a decision that was made by CIBA.
What I can tell you, though, is that some of the initiatives that are within the report will be brought forward. Like the bicycle initiative, there are other initiatives that we are working on, but the report, at this moment, I don’t have the liberty of providing it.
