Evidence of meeting #87 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was communities.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
What motion are we talking about? My colleague says it is a government motion. I don't understand. I thought we were discussing our motion, here.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes, it is a motion introduced by the members representing the government.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Let me point out that you are part of the government.
That said, let us get back to the subject.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
Ha, ha! Thank you. What government position are you appointing me to?
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Let's say I am very proud of the mandate the people of Louis Saint-Laurent have given me.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Yes, of course.
The motion proposed by the government side is not minor. That is another way of referring to our friends in government, by the way. I think it was the word “friends” that surprised you. Just kidding, of course.
Let me say that something should be noted in the five requests made at the end of the government motion. The fifth and last request in a way summarizes the entire motion and indicates what the committee will do with its water study. I understand that. But what words appear in the four previous requests? They refer to the Alberta energy regulator. I might be wrong, but I believe that is a provincial body in Alberta. As far as I know, we are part of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada. We are at the federal government level. We are not in the provincial government.
If what is happening provincially in Alberta happens to be of great interest to our government colleagues, they can simply go to the polls, and I wish them good luck.
If you want to run for the House of Commons, focus on what's happening in the House of Commons under federal jurisdiction, but that's not what we are talking about with this motion. Of the five elements they are asking for at the end of this motion, four of them have in their mandate the words “Alberta Energy Regulator”.
Mr. Chair, this is the House of Commons of Canada. We are here at the federal level, and those people are asking us to scrutinize why it happened with a provincial body of Alberta. If they are so interested in the provincial politics in Alberta, well, go on, I'm sure there will be some by-elections down the road, or maybe they could run in the next general election.
Good luck, buddy. Good luck. We never know. Democracy is democracy. Maybe they could be elected in Alberta. Maybe. I don't know. I will let other people decide.
One thing is for sure, Mr. Chair. Here, first and foremost, as a federal member of Parliament, I want to focus on where I have real power.
It is as though, in Quebec, we were to see—
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd just like to call the member's attention to the Constitution Act, 1867, which states that—
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
This isn't really a point of order. This is constitutional law.
I think we'll have to go back to Mr. Deltell.
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
It's not about the rules of the committee. It's about the Constitution of the country. I don't want to open that right now.
We'll go to Mr. Deltell.
November 28th, 2023 / 1:15 p.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I simply wanted to give an example that could apply to Quebec, but first I want to highlight the following. The government appears to have a strong desire to get involved in issues that are not their concern. That is especially the case with respect to the environment. Need I remind my colleagues representing the government that they got bad news from the courts, which have to review some of their decisions?
Remember that the Supreme Court of Canada called out the government with respect to Bill C‑69. Let me give an example that pertains directly to Quebec: in this regard, the federal government unilaterally gave itself the power to conduct an environmental assessment of major hydroelectric projects.
As a Quebecer, I am very proud of the major projects in Quebec that were developed in 1950s, completed in 1960s, and re-developed in the 1970s, the James Bay project in particular. I am very proud of the major advances that we, the Quebec nation, have made with respect to hydroelectric power.
With the legislation enacted by Bill C‑69, the federal government invited itself into the process to impose...
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Excuse me, Mr. Deltell, but there is a point of order.
Ms. Chatel, you have the floor.
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
I would like to know something. The motion invites Alberta's energy regulator to do some work but, according to Mr. Deltell, the committee did not have the authority to talk about it and to have such discussions as part of its study of freshwater because we have to limit ourselves to officials at the federal level only.
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
Well, I don't understand why the committee should be limited to interacting with federal stakeholders only, and not provincial stakeholders.
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
Sophie Chatel Liberal Pontiac, QC
I do not understand the point we are debating. I would like clarification.
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Deltell is talking about the motion. It pertains to energy and he is talking about hydroelectric power.
You may continue, Mr. Deltell.
1:20 p.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
I am tempted to remind this committee for the third time of the history of hydroelectric projects in Quebec. Since I have already done so twice, I will not do so a third time. Thank you though for the invitation to talk about Hydro Quebec's energy, which we as Quebecers are very proud of. I'm sure my colleague from Mirabel is also very proud that we have developed its full potential.
Clearly, geography has served us well, since Quebec has many rivers. Further, some very enlightened decisions were made in the 1940s and 1950s. First, Hydro Quebec was created and electricity was nationalized. Some very important developments were completed in the 1940s and 1950s. Those include the Beauharnois hydroelectric complex, the Bersimis project on the Betsiamites River, the projects on the Manicouagan river or the river right beside it, along with major hydroelectric developments that were completed and serve us now.
Getting back to my point...
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Just a moment, there is a point of order.
Mr. Longfield, you have the floor.
1:20 p.m.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Chair, it looks like we may not get to the vote today.
I'm wondering if we're adjourning at 1:30.