Evidence of meeting #2 for Bill C-39 in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Okay.
So, if there's a good system in place, why do you want allow yourself to circumvent several key environmental laws forever?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I don't agree that we're trying to circumvent environmental laws. What I said in the first answer is that we're always trying to see how we can do things better.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I don't agree with that, but we can discuss it if you like. There are a number of laws that you mentioned. When I look at this bill, I see that it gives us the ability to do our job better and to do it more simply, without reducing or setting aside what we have in terms of environmental standards.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Are you telling me that Bill C‑5 and Bill C‑39 do not allow you to circumvent environmental laws?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Today, we are talking about Bill C‑39. What I'm saying about this bill and what we're doing is that, no, we're not circumventing environmental laws. We're changing the process. Let's take an example—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Mr. Bonin, please let her answer, and then I'll let you ask a question.
Liberal
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
No. What I said is that I don't agree with what you said. If that's the answer you want, you have it. I disagree.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
I'm going to ask you another question.
Do you think protecting the environment and people's health is in the national interest?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
It's in the national interest, but it's not just my personal opinion. We know that we must not only fight climate change, but also work to protect the environment. In fact, that's what we are doing. When we propose a measure to double the size of our electricity grid, that's exactly what it does.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Okay. So you're saying it's in the national interest.
Do you think Bill C‑39 and Bill C‑5 put the economy ahead of protecting the environment and people's health?
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Okay.
There is a project that has been designated as being in the national interest in Canada: an oil sands pipeline project that will cover 1,000 kilometres and probably 1,000 waterways. It's a project that doesn't give the impression that, for you, a healthy environment and people's health are as much of a priority as the economy.
That said, do you know the impact of the Pacific Link pipeline project, the route of which will cross rivers, waterways and communities?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
If we want to talk about the projects we have put forward—
Liberal
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
With all due respect, Minister, my question is this: Do you know the impact—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Mr. Bonin, please, for the benefit of the interpreters, if for no other reason, you cannot speak over each other. If you ask the question, you have to let her answer.
I will let you ask your questions, but please, you can't talk at the same time.
Bloc
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
It's a matter of procedure, Mr. Chair. When I ask a question, I expect the minister, who has a lot of experience, to answer it. My question is very simple: Does the minister know the impact of the Pacific Link pipeline? If she doesn't answer the question and instead takes time to deliver a speech, we are not making any progress.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
My remarks stand. There's a difference between getting an answer you don't like and not getting an answer at all.
Please proceed.