Environment Committee on Oct. 23rd, 2025

[Danielle Smith]

I would encourage you to look at every other province that doesn't have anywhere near the amount of installed wind and solar as we do. We do because we have a private sector market. The reason we've been able to bring so much on is that when the wind doesn't blow, which is 70% of the time, and solar doesn't work, which is 90% of the time—

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

I'm sorry. Time is up. Thank you.

[Danielle Smith]

—we have natural gas to back it up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Thank you very much.

Please, dear colleagues, look at the time and try to respect it. It becomes very hard for me to interrupt the witnesses. I don't like doing that, but unfortunately I have to in order to respect our time. If not, we'll start arguing about who got more or who got less. Let's please help each other.

Mr. Bonin, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Premier, let me provide some context for you. Quebeckers are concerned about worsening climate catastrophes. Parts of Quebec are experiencing serious drought and water supply issues. Water levels in the St. Lawrence are low. Floods are becoming increasingly frequent. This summer, forest fires polluted the air in cities like Montreal and Quebec City. They had some of the worst air quality in the world. There were also forest fires in Fort McMurray, as you know. As you know, what's happening in Alberta this year is even more worrisome.

Do you believe the climate is warming, and do you think human activity is the primary cause of that?

[Danielle Smith]

I can tell you that one of the issues we're facing in managing our forests is that they die at the age of about 80 years. Many of our forests are very old. We have to do better forest management practices to be able to either do prescribed burns or remove them mechanically in order to avoid them burning up and creating—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Excuse me, Premier.

[Danielle Smith]

Well, remember, when forests burn, they also release carbon dioxide.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Sorry.

What I asked was, do you believe the climate is warming, and do you think human beings are largely responsible for that?

[Danielle Smith]

As I said, we have a 2050 target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and being net zero, because we know it's a serious issue, but we also know that we have to take a practical approach.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Sorry to go on about this, but my actual question is about whether the climate is warming—

[Danielle Smith]

So yes, that's the reason we have an emissions reduction plan for net zero by 2050.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Pardon me, Premier. My question is not about whether you have a plan for 2050. My question is this: Is the climate warming, and is human activity largely responsible for that?

[Danielle Smith]

I can tell you that our industry is concerned about the impact they are having on emissions, yes. That is why we have a 2050 target to be carbon neutral.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Okay.

You refuse to acknowledge that global warming is taking place, and that is quite worrisome. I imagine that you also refuse to acknowledge that the warming is leading to an intensification of extreme weather events such as floods, forest fires and drought.

[Danielle Smith]

I thought this was a committee that was interested in actually getting to the bottom of what a practical approach is to get to net zero by 2050. Our practical approach—

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Can you answer my question, please?

[Danielle Smith]

I am answering the question. Our industry, through the Pathways project, wants to be net zero by 2050, with carbon capture, utilization and storage, bringing more different types of non-emitting electricity into their production and also doing direct air capture. I opened a facility yesterday for direct air capture. It's a Québec-based company that is investing in Alberta.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Premier, can you answer—

[Danielle Smith]

I am answering the question. We want to be net zero by 2050, and we have a different way of doing it from in Québec.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

You didn't answer my question. Can you answer my question, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Order, please.

[Danielle Smith]

I've answered the question. We want to be net zero by 2050 through carbon capture, utilization and storage.

[The Chair, Liberal, Angelo Iacono]

Order. We cannot have two people speaking at the same time. We have translation. We need to be respectful of those who are doing the translation.

Please, all parties as well as witnesses, to have an easier flow, I ask the witnesses to listen to the person who is asking the questions. If he is interrupting you, it is because he needs to redirect his question. Remember, he has little time to ask his questions, and he is the one controlling his questions. It's not me, and it's not other members; it's the person asking the question. Please be conscious that he may interrupt you because he may be searching for a particular answer to a particular question.

Thank you very much for your collaboration.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Chair, I'll try again.

Ms. Smith, do you think global warming is taking place, yes or no?