Natural Resources Committee on April 21st, 2026

[Imran Noorani]

Thank you for the question.

That's one of my favourite files in the country. The reason I like it the most is that the Atlantic region, paired with Quebec, is going to show us what collaboration can unlock in terms of economic development. All the gigawatts we're talking about.... You could argue that they're different ranges, but what you need are moving pieces. You need interprovincial agreements around transmission build-out. That's the backbone. You need the demand side of the equation, and the generation side. The demand side means talking about who's going to use it. Is it something we export to the U.S., etc.? There are MOUs being signed with the northeastern corridors. This is why it's exciting.

What we really need to focus on, first and foremost, is “if you build it, they will come”. Transmission infrastructure needs to be the first place we start to have the conversation. The federal government can come in to help—not to tell us what to do but rather to balance the equation regarding how costs and benefits are shared across all the different provinces and players in the equation.

This is why it's very exciting to me. I think we will be showing the world what collaboration and economic development can do, hand in hand.

[Braedon Clark, Liberal, Sackville—Bedford—Preston, NS]

That's a great way to end. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Thank you, Mr. Clark. Indeed, it's a great way to end.

This has been an excellent panel, and I want to thank the witnesses. Again, as Mrs. Stubbs suggested, we're open to briefs and further information you may want to share in order to enlighten our study.

Colleagues, we had two great panels today. This brings our meeting to an end, except for a few pieces of information.

Next meeting, on April 23—this Thursday—we will receive Minister Hodgson on the main estimates, the supplementary estimates and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. We'll have various officials for the main estimates in the second hour.

On Tuesday next week, there is the spring economic statement. As you know, traditionally, there is a lock-up in the morning for all MPs—opposition members as well as the government side—that conflicts with our committee.

Colleagues, it is my prerogative as chair—though I hope I have your concurrence—to suggest that we won't be meeting.

With that, I have Mr. Tochor.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

It's just for clarification.

I'm very grateful that the minister is going to be here. Is it for two hours? I believe the nuclear study is one hour. Then we have the estimates. Is he coming back for the nuclear half-hour, or are we splitting that time? It seems as if he's shorting his responsibility. The committee asked for an hour to review the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. I think Canadians are getting shortchanged if he isn't here for a full hour to talk nuclear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Okay. I know we have him for an hour this Thursday, Mr. Tochor. I think that matter could be raised with him. His parliamentary secretaries are here, and his staff. They will raise that with him.

As you know, we can ask the minister, but we can't compel him.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Chair, not to go over the point again, but he is supposed to be here for an hour. Now he's shortchanging this committee on finding answers about why we're giving our Canadian nuclear labs to an all-American group of companies.

I will be vigorously exploring that with him for as much time as I'm allowed, but if the study is for one hour, he is—once again—not being accountable to this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Duguid]

Thank you, Mr. Tochor. You've made your point. I will leave it to the folks in the room who heard that request. I know it'll be passed on to the minister.

We are adjourned.