Natural Resources Committee on June 17th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting 102 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources.

Since today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of all.

Before we begin, I would like to ask all members and other in-person participants to consult the cards on the table for guidelines to prevent audio feedback incidents. Please take note of the following preventative measures in place to protect the health and safety of all participants, including the interpreters.

Only use a black, approved earpiece. The former gray earpieces must no longer be used. Keep your earpiece away from all microphones at all times. When you're not using your earpiece, place it face down on the sticker placed on the table for this purpose. Thank you for your co-operation.

In terms of Zoom reminders, please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. All comments should be addressed through the chair. Additionally, screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted.

Ms. Stubbs, you have the floor.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

I want to move a motion that I tabled. I hope that all members of this committee will see the importance of the timely and urgent nature of this motion and therefore support it.

Given that the Trans Mountain expansion has cost taxpayers more than $34 billion when the government should have set legal and jurisdictional certainty for the private sector proponent to go ahead and get it built; given that it's five years behind; and given recent news about uncompetitive contracts, with $32 million going to McKinsey, concerns about shipments and still no details on divestiture to make Canadians whole for all the public dollars spent on the Trans Mountain expansion unnecessarily, including a potential 30% stake for indigenous communities, but which the government has still given no clarity on, I hope that all members will support this following motion to get the transparency, accountability and details that Canadians deserve.

I move:

Given that: a. The government is actively engaged in the process to sell the Trans Mountain expansion pipeline. b. The sale of the pipeline is expected to happen over the summer, before the committee will be able to reconvene. c. It is critical that members of this committee be apprised of the progress of the pipeline’s sale [since the government unnecessarily made Canadians owners of all of it]. The committee instructs the chair to schedule five meetings between July 8 and September 13 to hear updates from departmental officials on the sale of the pipeline.

Conservatives certainly believe that this is imperative and urgent. The government owes Canadians all these answers. We do hope that members of this committee will support this motion today for those reasons.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you, Ms. Stubbs.

I will now go to Ms. Dabrusin.

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

I move to adjourn debate.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

The debate is adjourned.

Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Given that we are going to be in other votes, I was going to vote to adjourn the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

I don't see any objections. The meeting is adjourned.