INDU Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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Minutes of Proceedings
Mirko Bibic, Tony Staffieri and Darren Entwistle made statements and answered questions.
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 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.
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 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.
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
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.