Environment Committee on Dec. 1st, 2025

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

How many billions of dollars of public money would have to be spent to capture the carbon emitted by a new oil sands pipeline? Is that even possible?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

You're asking me if it's possible to do what?

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

There are two questions.

First, how many billions of dollars of public money would it take to capture the additional emissions associated with production to fuel a one-million-barrel-a-day oil sands pipeline?

Second, is it possible, through your tax credits and carbon capture sequestration, to capture all the additional emissions associated with the additional production for this pipeline?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Okay.

I was saying that, on that side, it's a project—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

How many billions of dollars? Is it possible—

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I don't have the project in front of me to check all the figures.

What I'm saying is that this is part of what was in the agreement—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

You don't know how much it would cost.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

I'm having trouble following the discussion, because my colleague is asking a question, but he's not waiting for the minister's answer before continuing, so I can't hear his answer. Perhaps we should give the minister a little time to answer questions.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. St‑Pierre and honourable colleague, your comments would be relevant if you weren't speaking French. Since we're speaking French right now, you don't need the interpretation. I will even speak more slowly for you, so that you can hear my questions.

Madam Minister, are you still committed to meeting Canada's current greenhouse gas reduction target by 2030?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Yes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

You're always committed to that.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Yes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Do you currently agree with Mr. Guilbeault, who says very clearly that we have to be able to look at ourselves in the mirror, that we have to be honest with Canadians and that we can no longer meet our 2030 targets? Do you agree with that statement?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I'll just take a moment to say again that these are ambitious targets. We need to continue to do our work. We are committed to continuing to do the work necessary to meet those targets. So—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Guilbeault says that we have to be honest with Canadians and tell them that we can no longer meet the target. So you don't agree with that statement.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you, Mr. Bonin.

Mrs. Anstey, the floor is yours for five minutes.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Thank you, Minister, for finally taking some time to meet with us today.

Minister, rural Canadians have been very clear that EV mandates make little sense in their small communities. The vast distances, harsh weather, high vehicle costs and limited charging infrastructure make adoption far more difficult.

Will you acknowledge to this committee that a rigid one-size-fits-all approach does not work for rural Canada, yes or no?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

As you know, we had consultations on the EV regulations that closed last month. We're reviewing them right now—

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Yes or no, Minister? Do you agree that these mandates don't make sense for rural Canadians, yes or no?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I just want to be clear. Do I believe that EVs can make sense in rural areas? We've seen it in other parts of the world, absolutely, but I just want to be clear that we're in a period when we're in review, after having completed consultations. Right now, we're still looking at how to make sure that we have the strongest policy going forward on zero-emissions vehicles.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Thank you, Minister.

Brian Kingston from the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association told this committee that the government's pause of the 2026 EV mandate was “a recognition that this regulation isn't working and the targets are unfeasible”, noting that it would require a 200%-plus increase in sales in order to meet your 2026 requirement.

Based on that evidence, will you commit to permanently removing the EV mandates, yes or no?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

We are in a period of review, and I will be putting out new pieces—

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Do you, as the environment minister, personally support removing the mandates?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I support making sure that we have a policy that is based on the consultations and review, and it will be the strongest policy.

Do I believe in zero-emissions vehicles as part of the future right around this world? I do, absolutely.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

But will you support removing the mandates, yes or no?