Senator Mockler: Yes.

Hon. Renée Dupuis: Will Senator Mockler take another question?

Senator Mockler: I will say yes.

Senator Mockler: Yes.

Senator Mockler: You are correct, Senator Woo, it is science-based. It is technical. I will take your question under advisement and I will send you a written response.

Senator Woo: You are very kind. Thank you, Senator Mockler, for your speech and your advocacy of this bill. Thank you to Senator Quinn as well and to former Senator Griffin.

I support this bill enthusiastically, in addition to all of the things that you said about the benefits of wood. Wood buildings also look gorgeous and they are very pleasing to the eye.

I wanted to ask you about your citation of research that shows wood buildings have a net reduction in carbon emissions. Maybe this is a bit technical. I certainly need an education on how that works.

Are you saying that the wood that is embedded in a wood building reduces more carbon from the atmosphere than the wood that is embedded in a forest in the trees? I do not know how that works.

Are you saying that the carbon emissions used to build a wood building are less than the carbon emissions from building a non‑wood building — say, a concrete building — and the net savings are what you are referring to? Sorry this is a little bit technical, but it is an important point that you raised and I do not fully understand how it works. Thank you.

Hon. Rosa Galvez: Will Senator Mockler take a question?

Senator Dupuis: Senator Mockler, Senator Woo’s question is extremely important. I don’t want to make this a question of privilege, but would you be willing to share your written response to Senator Woo with the rest of the senators?

Senator Mockler: I must start by saying that that is a very good question and an excellent suggestion.

We can draw on the experience of our experts, including Senator Galvez. I will be sure to send a very thorough answer to Senator Woo, and collectively, we can use all of our experience to ensure that every senator, no matter who they represent in this country, gets the right answer when asked the question. We will be there for our children and grandchildren, to safeguard a very important economic sector in Canada.

[English]

Senator Mockler: Thank you, Senator Cordy. I will look to enhance that before you take the adjournment. I will quote the architect Michael Green, whom I quoted earlier. I will say it again, because I think it is worthy, and it is a step in the right direction. He says:

I would love to see our nation move to a sense of ambition, of world leadership —

— and we are —

— and dominance in the way we express wood and the way we build with wood. We are wonderful at cutting down trees . . . .

You are right, we are wonderful at cutting trees. But we need to make it value added. Looking at Bill S-222 is a step in the right direction. Thank you.

(On motion of Senator Cordy, debate adjourned.)

[Translation]

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Carignan, P.C., seconded by the Honourable Senator Plett, for the second reading of Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Governor General’s Act (retiring annuity and other benefits).