Environment Committee on Sept. 25th, 2025

[Patricia Brady]

A project being subject to an impact assessment under our act wouldn't have any implications for our obligations under the cap.

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

Okay.

[Patricia Brady]

An impact assessment could look at emissions related to projects and understand what the emissions would be. There is no federal jurisdiction under our act to impose conditions in relation to emissions, but they could be assessed.

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

When you're talking about timelines and fast-tracking projects, do you ever measure or study the financial impacts of the delays on the projects that move forward? We hear from a lot of proponents that time is money within their business. In light of where we are as a country, I'm just curious to know whether that is ever considered in terms of the timelines you're reaching for.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

I'm sorry. The time is up.

Perhaps you can provide us with a written response to that or else answer it in later questions from members. I'm sorry about that.

Thank you.

I now give the floor to Mr. St‑Pierre for five minutes.

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

Thank you for being with us today.

As you know, Bill C‑5 received royal assent in June 2025.

First, Ms. Hiriart‑Baer and Ms. Brady, can you comment on the impact that the bill has had on your respective agencies?

What is the specific relationship between your respective agencies and the Major Projects Office?

[Patricia Brady]

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is still being set up.

The new office has announced a CEO, Dawn Farrell. It's still in the process of staffing up, first of all, but certainly for those projects that are subject to our act and that are listed under the new act, we will have to be working very closely with the major projects office to support the development of those conditions documents within two years. The internal governance processes under which we'll work will be established once the office is fully set up, but we'll certainly be working closely with them and supporting their work.

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

Then it's a work in progress. We will have to wait and see.

Ms. Brady, you mentioned the Contrecœur expansion project. As a member from Quebec, I'm curious to know more. My colleague's riding is not too far from Contrecœur either.

Can you comment on the assessment of the Contrecœur project, if it's not too early to talk about it?

Has a timeline already been set for the project?

[Éric Landry]

By way of background, the Contrecœur expansion project underwent an environmental assessment, and the role of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada ended after that. The permits are issued by the agencies responsible for regulating the project.

In terms of timelines, the Major Projects Office would be in a better position to answer your question. Our role ended when the project was approved.

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

I'd like you to tell us about your working relationship with the Canada Energy Regulator.

Could you give us more background and briefly explain the relationship between your agency and the Canada Energy Regulator?

[Éric Landry]

There is a memorandum of understanding that defines how we work with the Canada Energy Regulator. There are no projects currently under assessment for which the legislation governing our agency and the CER applies.

Our president and his counterpart meet a few times a year for an informal dialogue. We are currently in discussions with our counterparts to prepare for potential major projects related to the legislation governing our agency and the CER. In that case, an integrated assessment would be required to meet the requirements of our respective laws.

We are laying the groundwork for potential projects, but at the moment, there are none in the pipeline.

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

I have only a minute and a half left. I'm going to switch very quickly, then, to the Canada Water Agency.

I represent the riding of Honoré—Mercier. It borders the Rivière des Prairies, which flows into the St. Lawrence River. My colleague's riding is also on the St. Lawrence.

Generally speaking, can you tell us how important the Rivière des Prairies or the St. Lawrence River is to your agency?

Do you currently have any challenges regarding the St. Lawrence River?

[Véronique Hiriart-Baer]

Thank you for the question.

We have established eight freshwater ecosystem initiatives, and one of them concerns the St. Lawrence River. Others concern, for example, the Fraser River and the body of water located east of the Saint John River.

Since 1988, we have been working with Quebec to protect the St. Lawrence ecosystem under the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence, which resulted in the St. Lawrence action plan.

This is a successful working relationship, currently in its final phase. It covers the years 2011-26, and its objective is to improve the water quality of the St. Lawrence, conserve its biodiversity and ensure it can be sustainably used.

This is a body of water that is really important to us and has major economic significance, as I'm sure you know. We are currently in negotiations to renew the agreement for the years 2026-36.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you, Ms. Hiriart‑Baer and Mr. St‑Pierre.

I now give the floor to Mr. Bonin for two and a half minutes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to continue the discussion on the same topic.

I received letters and met with people from the priority intervention zone, or ZIP, committees, which you are very familiar with. They were extremely concerned to see that their funding would not be renewed. I was told that they would no longer have funding as of 2026 and would have to turn to Canada Water Agency programs.

Can you confirm that no renewals have been formalized?

The ZIP committees are worried about their future. Does that concern you, given the importance of their work?

[Véronique Hiriart-Baer]

Yes, in 2026, the ZIP program, developed under the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence, will go in a different direction.

When we created the ZIP committees, the regional round tables did not yet exist. They are now established in most of the regions where the ZIP committees have been set up.

However, the respective mandates of the regional round tables and the ZIP committees overlap. Ending the direct subsidy of ZIP committees under the agreement avoids any overlap.

That doesn't mean that the ZIP committees won't be able to continue fulfilling their mandate. For example, the Lac Saint‑Pierre ZIP committee will continue its work. Our contribution is only one of many that enable these committees to do their work.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

You're saying that the federal government will have no money next year to contribute to the basic operations of the ZIP committees.

What was the total amount of the envelope for the ZIP committees?

[Véronique Hiriart-Baer]

The total amount of the envelope was about $1 million. Each ZIP committee received approximately $75,000 a year.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

As far as I know, the regional round tables are not funded by the federal government. They are funded only by the province.

Is that correct?

[Véronique Hiriart-Baer]

Yes, it is a provincial responsibility. For example, the Province of Quebec provides funding to support regional round tables and develop priorities.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

You have time for one last question, Mr. Bonin.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

You say there is no federal money for regional round tables.

What you're telling me is that the ZIP committees don't do anything more than what the regional round tables do. However, in my opinion, they are not the same thing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Ms. Hiriart‑Baer, please be brief.

[Véronique Hiriart-Baer]

I will follow up in writing on the difference between the ZIP committees and the regional round tables.

What I can tell you is that the ZIP committees will be able to make applications through the Canada Water Agency.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you.

Next is Mr. Bexte for five minutes. Thank you.