Environment Committee on Dec. 1st, 2025

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Are you in favour of this pipeline, yes or no?

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

With the cross-dialogue, it's hard for me to keep up on the translation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Okay.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

We'll slow down a little bit for you, Mr. Grant.

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Thank you.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Do you think a new oil sands pipeline will help fight climate change, yes or no?

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

Not all questions can be answered with a yes or no. The agreement includes measures on carbon capture, as well as sections on carbon pricing for industry. It has several sections. So it's not all black and white.

As Minister of the Environment, I have to make sure that we continue to reduce our emissions here in Canada, and that's what I'm doing every day.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Okay.

As Minister of the Environment, do you believe that increasing oil sands production makes it possible to increase or reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

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

I'll answer you in two parts, because there are several parts to that question.

The first thing—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

My question is simple, Madam Minister.

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

First, the agreement contains measures on carbon capture, which is part of this discussion, which is different—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Let's assume that your agreement comes into force and that oil sands production increases in the country. Are you telling me that it will reduce emissions?

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

No, what I'm saying is that—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Then it increases emissions, right?

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

—there are a number of things that need to be done to reduce our emissions.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I understand that you're good at communicating, but my questions are specific.

Do you think building a pipeline and increasing oil sands production makes it possible to increase or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the country?

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

I'll repeat my answer—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Does it increase them or decrease them?

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

The information I'm trying to give you is that—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I'm going to switch gears. Obviously, you don't want to answer this one.

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

I'm talking about the carbon capture measures that are part of this agreement.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

How many billions of dollars of public money would have to be spent to offset those emissions with carbon capture?

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

It has to be paid for by the private sector.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

So there is no money from the government for carbon capture and sequestration projects.

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

As I said before, there are tax credits, but—