Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 30th, 2023

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Once again, I just want to acknowledge the subamendment that's been made by MP Patzer. I do want to talk about how important the work of this committee is and how important it is that we get to the motion that was tabled this morning by MP Sorbara about our dealing with Bill C-49 and Bill C-50. These bills are very important for us all across Canada, as well as specifically for Sudbury, as the subamendment has been tabled.

As I stated and will reiterate, the people of Sudbury certainly want to talk about creating good, sustainable jobs for workers. We also want to talk about economic growth within a net-zero economy. This is extremely important. Critical minerals will be a very important aspect to our reaching net zero, and Sudbury will be a key player in that. We look forward to our role in that. This committee did a study around the Inflation Reduction Act and how Sudbury can position itself in Canada, as well, around being not only competitive but also collaborative with that. It will be very important. Critical minerals present a generational opportunity for wealth for Sudbury and in turn Ontario and Canada.

It is vitally important that this committee get on with the work of Bill C-49 and Bill C-50. I look forward to doing that. I look forward to inviting some really good expert witnesses from Sudbury and northern Ontario, as well, to weigh in on this important discussion that Canadians and people from Sudbury want us to have.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you, Ms. Lapointe, for your intervention on the subamendment and for your advocacy for Sudbury.

We'll now go to Mr. Angus.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Certainly, the issue of critical minerals is essential to the Canadian economy. We know that the EV battery investments that have been put in are set to create two million cars coming off the line. That is going to dramatically change the economic landscape and the energy landscape, yet the Pierre Poilievre Conservatives get up day after day in the House to ridicule EV technology. They say that these vehicles catch fire, that they freeze. They're really doing everything they can to undermine.... The member for Sarnia—Lambton is always saying how it would have been better to give $10 million to every resident in her riding rather than make these investments. I'm very concerned about this ongoing sabotage against a clean-energy economy.

With regard to Ms. Lapointe's concerns, however, I would certainly support having witnesses come from the base metal regions to talk about their clean-energy investments and the importance of the critical minerals strategy. However, I think that should come in a separate motion. I think that should be a study on its own. I think what we're seeing here is an attempt to hijack the motion that was brought forward to get Bill C-50 done.

We've had over 112 hours of testimony. We've had multiple witnesses. The Conservatives have interrupted time and time again. Any time that we had representatives of workers and workers from western Canada who wanted to speak about getting this legislation passed—

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Mr. Angus, we have a point of order. I'm going to go to the point of order of Ms. Stubbs and then I'm going to come back to you, but I might have to interject after the point of order.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Because Mr. Angus made several points this morning in the same vein, I would just make a point of order according to his own standards about what is relevant to the debate. It seems that he has spent all morning interjecting on others and now he might be doing the same thing and—

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We are getting into debate now, Ms. Stubbs. That's not relevant to the point of order you raised.

Mr. Angus, I will have to put you on hold, because we have resources only until three o'clock, so we will have to suspend until 3:30 just so we can get a transition of resources and interpreters.

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

I'm done. I was just ready to call the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

What I will do, Mr. Angus, is give you the floor back when—

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

No. I've finished.

I call the question

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Okay. I will call the question. I'll take this to a vote.

All in favour of the subamendment, please raise your hands.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We're in a vote.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

No, but it's about the vote and the—

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We're in a vote, so all in favour of the subamendment, raise your hands, please.

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

On a point of order, and I hate to do this, because I know you called the vote, but I think you said we had resources until three o'clock. We're past three. I suggest we suspend. Could we vote when we come back? Unless we have resources to do it.... I'm ready to raise my hand.

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

I'm sorry. We're in the middle of a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We'll vote and conclude—

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

John, that does seem reasonable.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you. We'll be done very quickly.

All in favour, raise your hands.

[An hon. member]

On the subamendment?

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Yes.

(Subamendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The subamendment is defeated.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Defeated from having members from the community of Sudbury come...? Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

The subamendment is defeated.

Thank you.

We will suspend until 3:30.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Hello and welcome, new committee members who have joined us this afternoon. It's great to see you here at the natural resources committee.

We will go back to the amendment.

I will cede the floor to Monsieur Simard, who is next on our speaking list.