Environment Committee on May 28th, 2026

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Those are second-tier industries, not the primary industries that we're talking about here today involving resource and extractive industries.

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

Excuse me. I beg you to tell those communities in which those jobs are being created—

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

I'm not at all saying they're not important, not even a little bit. I'm saying that's a secondary industry in the classic definition of primary, secondary and tertiary industries. Primary industries generate new capital and wealth. Everything else depends on them and is predicated on them.

Liberal policies over the last 11-plus years have harmed that environment.

Thank you very much, Chair, for the time. I appreciate it.

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

I will tell people in my home province of Ontario that the Conservative Party says that we have secondary industries as our main workforce, but—

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

I would appreciate.... Go read your economics textbook.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shannon Miedema]

Your time is up.

Thank you very much, Mr. Bexte.

We will turn now to Mr. Watchorn.

[Tim Watchorn, Liberal, Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to the minister for being here today and answering our questions.

I'd like to talk about Canada's 2030 nature strategy. Nathalie Provost, the secretary of state responsible for nature, made a big announcement about protecting a scout camp in my riding where 300 hectares are now going to be protected in perpetuity. That was a collaboration between the federal government, the provincial government, municipalities and the private sector. The federal government contributed $1.4 million to save and protect a beautiful park in perpetuity for the community, which will have access to nature.

I'd like you to tell us how the three levels of government can work together to achieve our goal to protect 30% of our lands and waters by 2030.

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

Thank you very much for the question.

As you have said, protecting nature is very important for Canadians from all communities, because nature improves their quality of life and it's also important for the economy, particularly in the Laurentians. We need to continue protecting nature through the strategy.

As you have said, there are three pillars. The first pillar, and the one we speak to often, consists in protecting nature. It's very important to commit to creating new parks, but at the same time, we have to recognize the work Canadians are doing to protect the land that is in active use. One example is ranchers in the Prairies, who are using and protecting grasslands. We need to find more of these kinds of examples and recognize this work. That's the first pillar of the strategy.

The second pillar of the strategy consists in continuing to build major projects while protecting nature. This includes mapping key areas with the biggest number of diverse species at risk and areas that are carbon rich. Thus, project proponents will be told about areas where permitting would be a challenge because the areas are protected, and areas where it would be easier to carry out their projects. Project proponents would therefore have information in advance.

The third pillar of the strategy consists in mobilizing more private investment to support our nature protection work. Last summer, we advanced the Northwest Territories project finance for permanence initiative. This will protect 2% of Canada's land and 30% of lands and waters in the Northwest Territories. The initiative was funded by the federal government with public dollars and by philanthropists and charitable organizations. We are going to continue forward in that direction. With these partnerships, we can leverage public dollars to mobilize more investments to protect nature.

We don't speak enough to the very important things we have done under the strategy, especially for people in coastal communities. Examples that come to mind include measures on plastics. A lot of plastic is used in fishing, and this contributes to the issue of ghost gear. The strategy provides investment to find ways to retrieve ghost gear and ensure it doesn't end up in the ocean.

On the international front, ratifying the United Nations High Seas Treaty is also important to protect our oceans.

There are many other things that we don't talk about as much, but they are nevertheless important for communities across Canada.

[Tim Watchorn, Liberal, Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC]

Thank you, Minister.

I forgot to say at the beginning that I'll be sharing my time with Mr. Grant.

Mr. Grant, I'll give you time to ask your question.

[Wade Grant, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

I would like to follow up. I know I don't have much time, but you're talking about the nature strategy. Could you explain how this is going to advance our 30 by 30 commitments and how it's going to benefit future generations as well?

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

It's specifically mostly in pillar one that you find this but also in pillar three. It's about how we set up protections for nature, including the recognition of OECMs, which are active working areas that are also being protected. I used the example when I was talking with Mr. Watchorn of ranch lands, such as ranchers protecting grasslands. That is an important piece of it.

It is also about how we mobilize more private funds to help with public dollars to motivate more private investments. We have a great example in the Kootenays, where we protected a grizzly bear habitat. The project included the Province of British Columbia, the local first nation and the federal government, as well as private investments. When we do that, we get to use our public dollars to advance further.

[The Chair, Liberal, Shannon Miedema]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Bonin has the floor for six minutes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, thank you for being here.

We are witnessing the biggest backsliding on climate change in Canadian history. A number of people have said so. The member for Laurier—Sainte‑Marie, who officially walked out yesterday, has also said that your government was worse than the Harper government.

Do you agree with the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, the former minister of environment, who has said that there is serious backsliding on climate change in the country?

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

First, speaking about the member for Laurier—Sainte‑Marie, I just want to say that I worked with him as the parliamentary secretary for six years—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Do you agree with him, Minister?

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

I just wanted to start by saying that I have a lot of respect for his work.

Your question has given me the opportunity to speak about the progress we have made, including on the regulations—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Minister, I'm sorry, but we don't have a lot of time.

I want to know whether you agree with him that there is very serious backsliding and that significant elements of the climate action plan have been dismantled over the past one year.

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

The point I was making is that we are doing important work to advance the fight against climate change. I can speak to the measures we are taking, because it's important for Canadians to hear what we—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

We know them already, Minister.

You say that Canada is doing more about climate change than a year ago. The former minister of environment has said the exact opposite, but you continue to say you're doing more.

Can you provide numbers showing that you have cut more greenhouse gas emissions with your current plan, which has been dismantled, compared to a year ago?

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

This is a critical time for our country and the world, and we need to seize the moment.

If you want numbers, I can tell you that the methane regulations, which we introduced in December and which apply to landfills and to the oil and gas sector, will reduce emissions by 400 megatonnes—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I want the overall picture, Minister.

You are the Minister of Environment and I'm asking you a simple question on the climate file. It's important to have the overall picture. I want to know whether you have numbers showing that your government is in a better position from a year ago, overall, to meet its climate targets.

The Canadian Climate Institute says that you will not get to net zero by 2050. The Pembina Institute says that the federal agreement with Alberta will lead to an additional 230 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

On your side, do you have an expert or someone who can show us that you are making progress in the fight against climate change and you are not backsliding, as these people have said? Besides your department and yourself, is there anyone, somewhere, who is saying that? Do you have any numbers that show that?

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

I had started to give you some numbers when I spoke about the methane regulations—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I want the overall picture, Minister.

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

It's going to be very hard for me to answer your questions if you cut me off every time.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Answer the question. I want figures on the overall situation and not on methane, Minister.