Environment Committee on Nov. 27th, 2024

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

However, you are currently a minister in the government that is spending $35 billion on the Trans Mountain pipeline. Do you think that was a mistake?

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

I've answered your question several times—

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

You have never answered this question. That's why I'm asking again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I don't really know what this has to do with biodiversity.

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

It may not be the answer you want, but I've answered it several times.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Clearly, the minister is not going to answer the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Clearly, that question has run its course. Can we go on to the next question?

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Clearly, the minister will not answer that question, so, yes.

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

I've answered the question several times. That may not be the answer you want, but you can't say that I didn't answer it.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Minister, on Bill C-73, I would like to see improvements on accountability, on the biodiversity shield and on the advisory committee's independence. I'm curious as to whether you are open and, hopefully, committed to ensuring that targets, timelines and mandatory reporting on biodiversity and nature protection are built in with audits by the environment commissioner and parliamentary oversight to ensure government accountability.

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

As a legislator, I'm always open to proposals to improve the bills that are introduced. So, if what you are proposing will help improve this bill, of course the answer is yes. The commissioner of the environment and sustainable development doesn't need something to be put in a piece of legislation to audit federal acts or regulations. He has all the powers he needs.

Do we need to add that? We'll see, but I'm entirely in favour of improving the bill.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Canada has made very limited progress when it comes to protecting 30% of our lands, oceans and water—

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

I don't agree with you.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

—with only a 1.1% increase in protected areas between 2020 and 2023. That brings the total from 12.5% to 13.6% over three years.

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

You have to be careful. You're talking about protecting terrestrial areas, but as for the proportion of marine protected areas, as I reminded Ms. Pauzé earlier, it went from less than 1% in 2015 to nearly 16%.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Right now, we're not on track to meet our 25% target by 2025 and our 30% target by 2030. Given this limited progress on lands and if these targets are not met, what mechanisms are you going to include to hold the federal authorities accountable?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Unfortunately, the time's up. We're well over time here.

What I'm going to do is this. We have six questioners for the second round. I'm going to limit it to one and a half minutes per questioner, and we're going to end at 6:30.

Mr. Leslie, you have a minute and a half.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

It's disappointing that the minister's refusal to answer has limited my time to offer questions on a prestudy that is.... I heard a swipe from the minister previously that this has somehow anything to do with politics, when the reality is that the parliamentary gridlock has to do with the green slush fund documents. The Auditor General found nearly $400 million of misappropriated funds, with 186 different conflicts of interest, while only sampling 25% of contracts.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

I have a point of clarification.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

The fact that this is an excuse for why we need to do a prestudy is appalling to me. If you hand over the documents, you would be much better off and we could move things forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. Taylor Roy.

[Leah Taylor Roy, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

I don't believe we've ever introduced a green slush fund, so perhaps the member opposite could explain what he's talking about.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Thank you for that point of order

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

That's not a point of order.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

I want to come to the aid of my NDP colleague a little bit. The impugning of her motivations—