Environment Committee on March 12th, 2026

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

This is something that comes up a lot: How do we help to support the cleanup of these contaminated sites?

You mentioned Nova Scotia. There have been many opportunities in which the federal government has been able to help support the cleanup. It's an example of partnership between Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada in helping communities.

The transfer you're referring to is the result of a memorandum of understanding between Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada to conduct contaminated sites remediation activities at certain sites. This one, the one we're referring to in the most recent supplementary estimates (C), is for the remediation at Eureka. The fund supports the construction of a landfarm at the site for the treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon-impacted soils.

It's one example. That was really for a specific project, but it's part of a larger memorandum of understanding between Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada to be able to treat these sites.

[Shannon Miedema, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

In Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, there's a former military housing complex called Shannon Park. We've heard about it a lot. It was chosen recently as one of the first sites for Build Canada Homes, which is really exciting. A thousand new affordable homes are going to be constructed.

Can you talk about how remediation projects through this program will help land redevelopment for housing uses, as we look to really ramp up our construction for housing supply?

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Minister, please give a very short answer. Your time is almost up.

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

Thank you. It could be part of a longer conversation.

By remediating sites, we help in making sites safe again, and that's what we're working towards in remediating lands. I'm happy to have a longer conversation specifically about that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you, Minister.

Mr. Bonin, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Minister, your government has committed to protecting 30% of land and marine areas. Right now, you're up to about 15% for both. Clearly, that goal must be reached by 2030.

Groups like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Nature Canada, Birds Canada and the World Wildlife Fund will be sending a letter to the Prime Minister this week asking, among other things, that the Canada Nature Fund be reinstated, because there will be no money left by March 31. There's nothing in the budget for that. Do you commit to renewing that fund? If so, how much will you put towards it? These groups are calling for that immediately.

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

Yes, and I fully understand the request. It's very important to me and our government to continue protecting and conserving nature. I know we have that deadline of March 31, and we're working on it. I don't have an amount to give you today, but I'm well aware of this issue.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

We'll be watching that closely.

The former minister of environment, climate change and nature had implemented a ban on funding in relation to fossil fuels, or had prohibited certain subsidies. He had talked about coming up with another sequence, among other things, for organizations like Economic Development Canada. Can you tell us today how much funding is allocated each year to fossil fuels in Canada? How much was it last year?

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

What I can say is that we have $90 billion that will go to clean technologies and—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

You're not answering the question, Minister.

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

—renewable energy.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I'll remind you that the question was about fossil fuels.

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

No, but—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

How much are you putting into that?

I know the other numbers. I want to know how much you invest in fossil fuels, in billions of dollars.

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

To talk about numbers, I think it's important to say where the money is currently being allocated.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

With all due respect, that's not my question. My question is about fossil fuels, Minister. How many billions of dollars are you currently putting into subsidies?

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

I want to show you that everything you see in our budget—and you can look at the 2025 budget—are grants for renewable energies.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

My question is this. How much money do you allocate to fossil fuel subsidies? There are subsidies for fossil fuels in the latest budget. How much money are you allocating this year, as of today? Do you have a number?

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

There's none.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Does the department have a figure for fossil fuel subsidies granted in the past year? Do you have that number? If you want to reduce these subsidies, you need to know how much they represent.

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

What I'm saying is that the budget contains $90 billion in subsidies for renewable energies. That's where we're investing the money.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Minister, with all due respect, my question is very clear: How many billions of dollars are you investing in fossil fuels?

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

What I said is that the budget was very clear: The money is going to renewable energy and clean technologies.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Are you ashamed to say how many billions of dollars you invest in fossil fuels?

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

That's $90 billion—