The cost of reducing carbon emissions in Canada was the theme of a panel discussion featuring four members of the Canadian Senate’s Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Northern British Columbia on Oct. 4.

Four committee members stopped in Prince George as part of a Western Canadian fact-finding tour and spent an hour engaging with the UNBC community about Canada’s commitments to transitioning to a low-carbon economy and the challenges the country may face as it develops plans to reach emission-reduction targets.

UNBC students, faculty, and staff had an opportunity to pose questions to Senators at the panel discussion. 

Committee Chair and Northern British Columbia resident Hon. Richard Neufeld was joined by colleagues Deputy Chair Hon. Paul Massicotte (Quebec), Hon. Dennis Patterson (Nunavut), and Hon. Percy Mockler (New Brunswick) for the evening discussion in the UNBC Senate Chambers.

UNBC Interim Vice-President Research Dr. Geoff Payne moderated the panel discussion, which was attended by UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks and approximately two dozen students, faculty and staff members. Questioners touched on topical issues ranging from the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas industry in British Columbia to the best ways to communicate to Canadians about the need to reach internationally agreed upon emission-reduction targets.

Four Senators and one assistant listen to David Claus speak about UNBC's award-winning Bioenergy Plant.

Prior to the panel discussion, the Senators got a first-hand look at how UNBC is reducing its dependency on fossil fuels by touring the Wood Pellet Bioenergy Project and the Bioenergy Plant. Assistant Director of Facilities Dr. David Claus gave the Senators a brief history of the UNBC Energy Initiative and answered questions about how the systems operate and the benefits they produce for the University and the environment.

The Senators also visited Vancouver, Kitimat, Calgary, and Estevan, Sask., as part of their tour.

Top photo, from left, UNBC Interim Vice-President Research Dr. Geoff Payne, Senator Dennis Patterson, Senator Paul Massicotte, Senator Richard Neufeld, and Senator Percy Mockler listen to a question in the Senate Chambers.