Transport Committee on June 18th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Mr. Kelloway.

Yes, Ms. Stubbs, go ahead.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

The amendment says, “every reporting public office holder, as defined in section 2 of that Act, who could be in a conflict of interest in relation to the proponent of the project has recused themselves under that Act to avoid the conflict.” It's not just about proponents. I take the member's point on that, but it is actually quite deliberately to screen for public officials and political decision-makers, especially given that that's going to be the Prime Minister and cabinet. We believe that the Conflict of Interest Act, and, importantly, screening for political connections and politically motivated and determined decision-making are imperative for Canadians to have confidence in this bill and, therefore, to ensure that we can all reach what I trust is our mutual goal that big projects can get built in this country.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much, Ms. Stubbs.

Mr. Kelloway, go ahead.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

I'm wondering if the Conservatives would be open to a friendly amendment on this one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I'll just suspend for one minute or so to give them time to confer.

The meeting is suspended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I call the meeting back to order.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

Sorry, but with respect, we have just 36 minutes, so let's call the vote, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Go ahead, Mr. Kelloway.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

In terms of the terminology, “private proponents,” we're just looking at that. Can you unpack that for us in terms of the definition?

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

It says, “the proponent of the project, or any director, officer or significant shareholder of the proponent”, then the second part deals with public office holders. I dearly hope I don't need to explain that to the members of this committee.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

No, I have a pretty good idea who public office holders are.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

You're one of them.

We want to make sure that Canadians can trust the integrity of Bill C-5, that the Conflict of Interest Act applies and there is screening for politically motivated and connected decision-making, which is what happens in—

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

I love to be educated. I'm a public office holder.

Okay, thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Are there any other questions, comments or clarifications on CPC-5?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Let us move on then to BQ-17.

If BQ-17 is adopted, amendments BQ-18, BQ-19, BQ-20, NDP-26 and PV-8 cannot be moved or debated since they pertain to some of the same lines.

Go ahead, Mr. Barsalou-Duval.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I would like to drop BQ-17, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Okay, that's easy. Thank you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

Let us move on then to BQ-18.

If BQ-18 is adopted, PV-8, BQ-19, BQ-20 and NDP-26 cannot be moved or debated since they pertain to some of the same lines.

Go ahead, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The objective of this amendment is to ensure that, before the governor in council or minister exercises the special powers conferred on them in the bill, they obtain the support of the province concerned by the project.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much.

Are there any questions, comments or clarifications?

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Let us move on to PV-8.

Ms. May, go ahead on PV-8. The floor is yours.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is another case where the government has said in press releases that projects won't go forward unless there's consensus. Obviously, it isn't referenced anywhere in Bill C-5 that there would be consensus and consensus isn't defined. The only consultation the ministers must offer is to other federal ministers. There is a requirement to talk to other federal ministers.

My amendment would expand that to say that meaningful consultation must also occur with the public. Meaningful consultation should occur with provincial ministers and territorial ministers who are also affected by a proposed designation of a project of national interest.

Specifically, in proposed paragraphs (b) and (c) of my proposed amendment is a very specific requirement for indigenous peoples with rights under section 35 who may be adversely affected by the project, as well as members of the public.

I think the important thing to stress here is meaningful consultation, not just checking a box and saying that they've consulted with them and moving on. It's a critical way of ensuring that the intent, as expressed by numerous ministers, is about finding a national consensus to ensure that there's been meaningful consultation with the public, with other orders of government and specifically with indigenous peoples and nations with rights under section 35, as well as under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Ms. May.

Colleagues, if PV-8 is adopted, NDP-26, BQ-19 and BQ-20 cannot be moved due to a line conflict. That is fine.

Are there any questions, comments or clarifications regarding PV-8?

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Let us move on to BQ-19.

I wish to point out that if BQ-19 is adopted, BQ-20 and NDP-26 cannot be moved or debated since there is a line conflict.

Go ahead, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The objective of BQ-19 is similar to that of BQ-18. It essentially seeks to put into writing what the prime minister verbally committed to, that is, not to impose a project on a province that does not want one. We want that promise to be kept. That is what we are seeking with this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

Let us now vote on BQ-19.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])