Environment Committee on Sept. 18th, 2024

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, you may have noticed that I get quite emotional when I'm talking about workers. That's because I've met them. I've been to their community and I've seen the distress in their eyes. These people love the forest; they love their work. At the moment, they're in extreme distress because they don't know what's going to happen. Have you met with the mayor of Sacré‑Coeur?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I've met with workers a number of times. Not long ago, I met with union representatives from a number of companies and different segments of the forestry sector, but I haven't met with the mayor.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

I'm a local guy. The forestry sector is a big deal for the regions.

The mayor said something that I find extremely important. If you impose the order, Sacré‑Coeur will become a ghost town. She was distraught; she never thought something like this could happen. We didn't understand what was happening, and neither did the workers.

I find it hard to believe that the Minister of Environment and Climate Change doesn't care about this and didn't go meet with her. What do you have to say to the mayor?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

That's odd, because that's not the message I got from the workers I met.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Which workers did you meet, Minister? Boisaco workers?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

We met with workers from several companies. As I told you, I went to Chibougamau. I met with workers there, in Lac‑Saint‑Jean and virtually. These people understand that the future of their jobs and the forest sector depends on the health of the forest. You and your colleagues in the Conservative Party either don't understand that or don't want to. I'm not sure which.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Minister—

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

You're talking about the consequences of the order when it hasn't even been drafted. We've done some analysis based on some preliminary findings.

I know you like fearmongering.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

No, Minister.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I get that it's the house model, but the fact is, we look at all the impacts of the decisions we make, including the socio-economic impacts. That's an obligation.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Minister, we're talking about the order.

You can't guarantee that your order will save the caribou population or enable it to grow, but we know for sure that it will kill jobs. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't work.

I'm thinking of the people who bought houses, who are going to lose their jobs, who have only known this for generations, and I simply can't believe the minister would be insensitive to that.

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Of course not.

It just baffles me how, when it comes to caribou, or conservation, or health impacts, or plastic pollution or climate change, you and your party are sticking your heads in the sand. You don't have a solution. You'd choose to sacrifice caribou, because you don't think they matter.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Guilbeault—

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

As far as you're concerned, forests can go down the tubes. You don't care.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Guilbeault, that's not true.

Before I give the floor to the next person, I will reiterate that you can't guarantee that your order will save the caribou population or grow the herd. Can you guarantee that?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Earlier, I told your colleague that we've successfully restored caribou populations in Canada by working together. We can do it and we've done it before.

[Richard Martel, Conservative, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

I'll let the next person go ahead. Thank you.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Thank you.

How much time is left, Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

You have 45 seconds.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Minister Guilbeault, in your opening remarks, you mentioned the carbon tax. Will you remove the carbon tax from home heating for all Canadians this winter?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

You're wrong. I was talking about the carbon pricing system in Quebec, which uses a form of cap and trade. That system is different from the federal one.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Whoa. Hang on. Hang on—

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I was talking about the provincial system. I'm happy to reread the part—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I cannot hear the translation. Can you start over?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Hold on. Thank you.

You didn't get interpretation?