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INDU Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 114
Monday, March 18, 2024, 11:01 a.m. to 1:01 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Joël Lightbound, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Dana Fan, Analyst
• Sarah Lemelin-Bellerose, Analyst
BCE Inc.
• Mirko Bibic, President and Chief Executive Officer
Rogers Communications Inc.
• Tony Staffieri, President and Chief Executive Officer
• Phil Hartling, President, Wireless
Telus Communications Inc.
• Darren Entwistle, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Monday, January 29, 2024, the committee resumed its study on accessibility and affordability of wireless and broadband services in Canada.

Mirko Bibic, Tony Staffieri and Darren Entwistle made statements and answered questions.

Motion

Jean-Denis Garon moved, — That whereas, in May 2018 and June 2021, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry provided $80 million in funding to Rio Tinto and Alcoa for the development and deployment of ELYSIS technology in the industry’s existing aluminum smelters for the production of carbon-neutral aluminum;

Whereas, in addition to greening this production sector, this investment was intended to create and retain thousands of jobs, particularly in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec;

Whereas work on commercializing the process was expected to begin in 2024, but the company recently announced that ELYSIS technology would not be available until the mid-2030s and that it anticipated cost overruns on the initial budget of $240 million;

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee invite to appear, first, Jérôme Pécresse, Chief Executive, Aluminium with Rio Tinto, and then François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, for two hours each, on the feasibility and expected timeline for the implementation of ELYSIS technology at the company’s facilities, the anticipated additional costs and the estimated economic benefits.

Amendment

Ryan Turnbull moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “for two hours each,” with the words “for one two-hour meeting following the completion of the study of Bill C-27,”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ryan Turnbull and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That whereas, in May 2018 and June 2021, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry provided $80 million in funding to Rio Tinto and Alcoa for the development and deployment of ELYSIS technology in the industry’s existing aluminum smelters for the production of carbon-neutral aluminum;

Whereas, in addition to greening this production sector, this investment was intended to create and retain thousands of jobs, particularly in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec;

Whereas work on commercializing the process was expected to begin in 2024, but the company recently announced that ELYSIS technology would not be available until the mid-2030s and that it anticipated cost overruns on the initial budget of $240 million;

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee invite to appear, first, Jérôme Pécresse, Chief Executive, Aluminium with Rio Tinto, and then François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, for one two-hour meeting following the completion of the study of Bill C-27, on the feasibility and expected timeline for the implementation of ELYSIS technology at the company’s facilities, the anticipated additional costs and the estimated economic benefits.

Motion

Brad Vis moved, — Given that the federal government has been collecting carbon tax revenue from small and medium size businesses since 2019; that despite repeated promises to return more than $2.5 billion in promised carbon tax revenues to small businesses the government has failed to do so; that many small and medium size businesses in various sectors of the Canadian economy are going insolvent; and despite the fact that seven provincial premiers, including Liberal Premier Furey, and more than 70% of Canadians oppose another 23% carbon tax increase on April 1st; the committee call for six meetings to be held immediately and invite the following witnesses:

  • Minister of Environment and Climate Change,
  • Minister of Finance,
  • Minister of Small Business,
  • Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry,
  • Various small and medium size business and industry representatives
and that the committee hear from witnesses the extent of the damage caused by carbon tax on the economy, and from government officials timeline to return money owed to small businesses and to freeze the carbon tax at its current levels and to report back to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Bernard Généreux, Rick Perkins, Brad Vis, Ryan Williams — 4;

NAYS: Iqwinder Gaheer, Jean-Denis Garon, Annie Koutrakis, Viviane Lapointe, Brian Masse, Ryan Turnbull, Tony Van Bynen — 7.

At 1:01 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Miriam Burke
Clerk of the committee