Environment Committee on Feb. 12th, 2026

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I would have liked you to commit to talk to your colleague at Transport Canada about this because it's an important issue.

You're talking about jobs. The situation is currently critical for Lithion, which is the only lithium battery recycling plant in Quebec. However, it could close its doors and even be liquidated as soon as tomorrow. The company is applying for a $30‑million loan so it can continue to operate. As things currently stand, the batteries, which contain critical minerals, will be sent to the United States. It's a recycling issue. It's an important link in the chain. There was a $2‑billion critical minerals fund in the last budget.

Are you concerned by the fact that we are at risk of losing this Quebec flagship?

Do you expect your government to act by tomorrow?

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

The time is up, but I'll let you to answer, Minister.

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

I would like to answer that it's important to support industries, and this bill provides for investment tax credits and other tools to help industries, whether in the critical minerals sector or the manufacturing sector. I hope the Bloc Québécois will support us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, thank you for coming.

My colleague here asked about the security risk in terms of Chinese-manufactured EVs. Even my colleague from the Bloc asked the same question. It's unfortunate that our Liberal members of this committee find that discussion point destructive, when other countries around the world have made it clear that they will not allow Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles near their governmental operations or military bases. I think this is important. We're talking about the ability to extract data from a country—especially since, as we all know, China and Russia are actually contemplating getting through the Northwest Passage in Canadian sovereign waters in the Arctic.

I'll ask you a direct question. In terms of your mandate and bringing in EVs from China, has the issue of security ever been on your desk?

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

I will respond by saying that if the Conservatives really cared about security issues, they would make sure their leader got the security clearance to be able to get this information.

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

Wait a minute. I'll tell you what—

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

I mean, you're asking about security issues. I'm answering about security.

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

You're politicizing an issue. You know for a fact that if he did get the security clearance, we would not be able to question these issues. On behalf of Canadians, on behalf of our riding members, we have to hold government to account.

It's a clear question: Has the issue of security ever been across your desk in terms of acquiring at least 50,000 manufactured EVs coming from China?

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

There are two things. My work, as the Minister of the Environment, is on parts like the regulatory piece on EVs that we've just talked about.

However, let me say the second piece: Absolutely, if your party cared about knowing about security risks, your leader would get the clearance. Every other leader has gotten that clearance.

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

So the issue of security with Chinese-manufactured EVs has never come across your desk. You've never talked about it. It's never been brought to your attention.

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

What I am saying, sir, is that if you actually want to keep coming to me about security issues—

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

I'm just asking a simple question.

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

—there is a way for your party to get the information you want.

The leader of the Bloc, the Prime Minister, the leader of—

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

I'm not in charge of buying 49,000 EVs from China. It's on everybody's mind in terms of Canadian sovereignty, in terms of security and in terms of espionage.

Has the issue of security ever come across your desk, as a talking point even, in terms of purchasing 49,000 EVs from China?

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

Look, I'm not the Minister of Public Safety. As I said, I'm the Minister of the Environment. My work—

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

So it's no.

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

Actually, it's a day for our country to celebrate that we have an automobile strategy that will make sure Canadians have access to the vehicles that are being purchased right around the world while reducing emissions and while building a strong industry right here in our country.

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

Okay. I'll tell you what; I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that, yes, it's not your file. I'll assume that your answer is, no, it's never come across your desk. I will forward this question to the appropriate minister.

Thank you.

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

As soon as he gets his security clearance, he can get these answers.

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

I have another question, about the oil emissions cap.

Thank you for the answer to my question, by the way. I submitted a question to your department on whether or not LNG Canada phase two would be subject to the national oil and gas emissions cap. Your answer was pretty much similar to your opening statement, but curiously, your last paragraph basically said that the oil and gas emissions cap would not be implemented if the Alberta MOU was successful.

Can you give me a timeline on when some type of comparable emissions plan will be made public to replace the oil and gas emissions cap nationally?

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

It was in our budget 2025, and it was very clearly in the climate competitiveness strategy, that for certain pieces—this is based on expert advice we received from environmental experts—if we have strong, enhanced methane regulations and if we have strengthened industrial carbon price and carbon capture, there would be a path to not needing to go forward with an oil and gas emissions cap.

We are currently working on strengthening the industrial carbon price. I hope the Conservatives will support us. It's a great economic initiative. It helps our industries right here in Canada. We have put in place enhanced methane regulations. We are continuing to work. Right in this budget implementation act is support for carbon capture. I'm hoping you will support that.

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

The way I read it is that the timeline will be based on an application being made for a pipeline being built to the west coast of British Columbia, and then the clock will start ticking to see if the Alberta MOU actually precedes it. That's when the comparable emissions caps will be considered to replace the national emissions cap.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Minister, I'll allow you a short answer.

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

It was fairly clearly set out in the budget. The wording is very clear. I set it out myself, and I do not agree with the paraphrasing that's been proposed by the member opposite there.