Environment Committee on Nov. 27th, 2024

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

No decision has been made for after 2030.

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

Is it something you're considering?

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

As I just told you, no decision regarding carbon pricing after 2030 has been made.

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

Will you rule it out today?

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

I repeat: No decision about carbon pricing after 2030 has been made.

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

Minister, is it possible for Canada to meet the 2030 emissions targets without a carbon tax, yes or no?

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

Theoretically, it would require investing billions and billions of dollars. What we can’t do through the tax system—

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

Is it possible, Minister?

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

—it would require very significant investments. I don't have an analysis in front of me, but I can tell you that carbon pricing will help us cut emissions by 30%, so any alternative mechanisms would have to bring about a 30% reduction. Frankly, what are those alternative mechanisms?

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

Minister, I asked you a simple question.

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

It's not a question—

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

Minister, I asked you a simple question—

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Excuse me. We have a point of order.

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

Of course you would....

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

The member asked a question and the minister is responding. I think a little bit of decorum and—

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

It was a yes-or-no question, Chair.

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Milton, ON]

I don't believe he's providing the minister with adequate time to respond in a cordial manner.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I've stopped the clock. We can't oblige a witness to answer yes or no, but we can ask.

Anyway, I've stopped the clock. We will now resume.

Again, I find this discussion fascinating.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Chair, on the same point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I find this discussion fascinating, but it becomes hard to follow it when everyone is talking over everyone else.

I have Ms. Collins.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

On the same point of order, if one of us asks a yes-or-no question and the minister understandably can't answer with a yes or no, then I think it's fair for the questioner to move on to a different question—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Of course it is—

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

I would like to make sure that it remains our time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It's the questioner's time. They can move on to another question. They cannot force the witness to answer with a yes or no, but they can go on to another question.

I will resume now. I will turn the clock back on.