Environment Committee on Nov. 17th, 2025

[Julie Gascon]

Thank you, Ms. Brady.

Madame Loubier, can you go over the two permits? We've received the first one. What's the outstanding permit?

[Nathalee Loubier, Senior Manager, Contrecoeur Environment, Montreal Port Authority]

The first permit that we received is a DFO permit, and it is for compensation for the copper redhorse. We received this one in October 2025.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Are you talking about environmental offsets?

[Nathalee Loubier]

Yes.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

That's where my question is leading. Are the environmental offsets you're talking about specifically in relation to the copper redhorse habitat?

[Nathalee Loubier]

Yes.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Is it proven that compensation will actually benefit the copper redhorse, or is it something that we're trying?

[Julie Gascon]

The first permit is related to the compensation work that we will be doing for the copper redhorse. Over the last many months, we've been working hand-in-hand with our colleagues at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, but also with our colleagues at the provincial level to evaluate whether the compensation work we are proposing is going to work.

This was done in full collaboration. The goal here would be to compensate at the Île aux Bœufs, which is a bit of a.... There are two little islands that are north of Contrecoeur—

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Let me interrupt you there. I read the report, but my specific question was whether there were any studies done to show that the offsets would actually benefit the copper redhorse directly, or whether this is just a trial to see if the copper redhorse will benefit. We are talking about a species at risk here.

[Julie Gascon]

I'll ask Ms. Loubier to answer that question.

[Nathalee Loubier]

You want to know whether the compensation plan for Île aux Bœufs will make up for the grass‑beds affected by the project.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Chair, the witness may not be aware that she can use simultaneous translation.

[Nathalee Loubier]

Okay.

Is this the environmental impact assessment report that you read?

I'm asking because the Department of Fisheries and Oceans received multiple reports with our permit application. These reports include the feasibility study showing that our work on Île aux Bœufs can compensate for the grass‑beds affected by the project. Hydrodynamic modelling has been carried out. A number of studies have been carried out to show that the project will work.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you.

My other question is for Ms. Dawn Farrell.

You're talking about helping out the Canadian government in terms of regulatory streamlining, but the only streamlining we seem to need here is the Department of Fisheries and Oceans permits and authorizations. I've worked with DFO. They are very risk-averse. They are very meticulous, so how is your office going to work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in terms of the regulatory streamlining you spoke of?

[Dawn Farrell]

In this case, almost exclusively the work for Contrecoeur will be on the financing of the project. We need about $2.3 billion to finish building Contrecoeur. We're working with their offices to arrange that financing through several agencies, and that's where most of the work is. In terms of regulatory—

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Is there no work with DFO for the outstanding permits?

[Dawn Farrell]

No, we do not see a need to do that work. The Port of Montreal is well ahead in that work and has already undertaken most of that work, so we do not see any regulatory streamlining there.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

There will be no fast-tracking of this permit requirement from DFO. You'll just allow the regular time frame to take place.

[Dawn Farrell]

Yes, currently, their regular time frame is working. You can ask Ms. Gascon how she feels about that, but we currently see that most of the work with them will be on the financing.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

If there's no fast-tracking, can I get an estimate of when the permits are expected to be approved by DFO?

[Julie Gascon]

Sir, we received the letter of completion of our file in August of this year. As Ms. Loubier indicated, there are two permits that are needed. The first permit was received in October of this year, and the second permit is expected in November.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'll probably leave this here as a placeholder for later on, but my next round of questioning will be around treaty rights and aboriginal rights and title. I'll probably ask that question of the Impact Assessment Agency and then later on transfer that over to the Major Projects Office.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you.

For six minutes, we have Ms. Miedema.

[Shannon Miedema, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Thank you to all of the witnesses for coming today.

I will start with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

The report states that the new dredging area would be within the range and critical habitat of the copper redhorse and specifies that all the changes will be analyzed and flagged as required and any authorizations issued by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Can you tell us how large of an area of critical habitat in square metres is directly affected by the new dredging area and maybe a bit on the methodology used for this mapping?

[Patricia Brady]

I'm afraid I can't give you the specifics on the area affected, but the port may be able to answer that question.