House of Commons Hansard #55 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was redistribution.

Topics

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, the world agrees that carbon capture storage is key to decarbonizing our fossil fuels, which the world will need for decades. Enhanced oil recovery produces low-carbon oil and is better for the environment. The Minister of Natural Resources claimed on the international stage that Canada will introduce a tax credit like the American 45Q. Guess what. The 45Q includes enhanced oil recovery but, when in Canada, he says that EOR will not be included.

Can the minister tell Canadians today what his actual position is on carbon capture?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Liberal

Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, certainly, carbon capture and sequestration is one tool in a broad tool box associated with reducing emissions across the economy, starting with putting a price on pollution and working through regulatory mechanisms and investment mechanisms, as well as tax measures.

We have been clear that there will be a tax credit associated with the implementation of carbon capture and sequestration technologies. That will be something that the hon. member will hear about a little bit later from my colleague, the Minister of Finance.

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Greg McLean Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, Canada was once the world leader in carbon capture technology. We lost our position to the United States because the investments went where it made economic sense. Technology will always follow the opportunities. A carbon capture tax credit without EOR is simply words on paper, which will not produce what the world is demanding, lower-carbon Canadian resources.

Will the minister live up to his international commitment and advance carbon capture EOR, or will he just sit back and let the Americans continue to eat our lunch?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Liberal

Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, if I were the hon. member, I would not be so dismissive of Canadian technology. Two of the top 100 clean-tech companies in the world this year were Canadian carbon capture and sequestration technologies.

I would ask the hon. member perhaps to spend some time with clean tech in Canada. Canada is a leader in carbon capture. We are a leader in clean tech around the world.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

2:35 p.m.

Conservative

Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support, both before and after I brought attention to the uncertainty facing the Bay du Nord project in the House on February 14.

Yesterday was a great day for energy workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and the world with the approval of this project, but the Minister of Natural Resources has delayed the next round of exploration licences by 90 days. This year's seismic program has been defunded by the provincial government.

Can the NDP-Liberal minister tell us if these decisions were backroom deals that were made in order to secure approval for Bay du Nord?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Liberal

Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, certainly, as the hon. member would expect, ministers of the Crown work with their provincial counterparts across a range of issues all the time.

I was very pleased to work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to launch changes this week on the offshore energy boards to include renewable energies, offshore wind and hydrogen, and certainly to focus on the transition that will be happening with respect to energy down the road. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has been a great partner in that regard.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Clifford Small Conservative Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL

Mr. Speaker, it is disgusting that Newfoundland and Labrador has to come to Ottawa, cap in hand, and beg to get our natural resources developed. One stakeholder told me that delays in Bay du Nord have investors rating their projects at a 50% higher risk of never being developed on our offshore.

Will the NDP-Liberal minister commit to maximizing the number of energy jobs in Bay du Nord by exempting it from the federal carbon tax?

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

North Vancouver B.C.

Liberal

Jonathan Wilkinson LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, certainly as everybody in the House should appreciate, we will be going through an energy transition over time. The Bay du Nord project is one of the lowest emission-intensity projects in the world. It is something that will fit within our cap. It will be net zero by 2050.

It is an important step forward, but so is actually making steps towards a transition to renewable energies and hydrogen, something I was very pleased to work on with my counterpart in Newfoundland and to announce this week.

The EconomyOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, today, the NDP‑Liberal government is presenting its inflationary budget that in no way responds to Canadians' economic realities. Every time this government intervenes in Canadians' lives, they wind up poorer.

Will the NDP‑Liberal government have the courage to take meaningful action to combat inflation?

The EconomyOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Edmonton Centre Alberta

Liberal

Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, we will find out what is in the budget in less than two hours.

I would, however, like to talk about Bill C‑8, which is being studied by the House. This bill would allocate $1.7 billion for rapid COVID‑19 tests and $100 million to improve ventilation in our schools, and it would also provide tax breaks for businesses and for teachers.

Why are the Conservatives playing politics instead of helping Canadians? What do they have against teachers? What do they have against small businesses?

The EconomyOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, the response from the NDP‑Liberal government is not reassuring anyone. Food prices are up, clothing prices are up, transportation prices are up, housing prices are up and the price of recreational activities is up.

The NDP‑Liberal government has not thought this through, so taxes are up and the carbon tax is up. When will the Prime Minister finally take his hands out of Canadians' pockets?

The EconomyOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Edmonton Centre Alberta

Liberal

Randy Boissonnault LiberalMinister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives often bring up the very important issue of affordability.

Let us talk about the Conservatives' voting record. We proposed the Canada child benefit and the Conservatives voted against it. We proposed a plan to help seniors and the Conservatives voted against it. We put money in teachers' pockets and the Conservatives voted against the measure.

We care about affordability on this side of the House. Who knows what they care about on the other side.

The EconomyOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

I kind of feel like I am at a hockey game. Let us quieten down a little.

The hon. member for Repentigny.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

April 7th, 2022 / 2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change's decision to approve the Bay du Nord project is bad news for the planet.

The IPCC made it very clear that we need to curtail oil production. Canada, meanwhile, is going into expansion mode. The goal is more production, more drilling and more oil.

In the fight against climate change, we have a choice: We can be part of the problem or part of the solution. We either pollute more or we change our habits.

I would never have thought that this Minister of the Environment would one day be applauded by the Conservatives. Why has the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change thrown in the towel?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question.

I have never owned a car, and probably never will. However, the train I take to Ottawa, the airplanes many of us use, run and will run for a long time on oil—

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

Order. I would like to hear the minister. The hon. minister.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

These vehicles and many others we need will continue to use oil. That is why we chose a project for the planet that emits 10 times less greenhouse gas emissions than the oil sands and five times less than the average project.

This project will have to achieve net-zero emissions. This is the first time in Canadian history that we have imposed such a condition on an oil development project. We will continue to work to fight climate change.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC

Mr. Speaker, there is one person here who approved one billion barrels, and he is on the other side of the House.

Reducing emissions by 43% by 2030 means we all need to roll up our sleeves: governments, businesses and citizens. The minister's approval of Bay du Nord sends a very bad message, that it is no big deal. Talk about wishful thinking. The IPCC was clear. We must reduce our oil production and consumption now.

By approving it, does he realize that he is contributing to climate warming here and abroad for years and years to come?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, the plan we tabled in the House last week was based on several sources of information, including information from the Canada Energy Regulator showing that oil production is projected to increase. Despite this, the plan we tabled does a very good job of demonstrating how we will meet our 2030 targets in all sectors. This plan has been praised by all stakeholders across the country.

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC

Mr. Speaker, a week after presenting his plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Minister of the Environment approved the folly that is the Bay du Nord project, which will emit a staggering 430 megatonnes. In the category “say one thing and do the opposite”, this is tough to beat.

This brings us to what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday about efforts to fight climate change: “Some governments...are saying one thing, but doing another. They are lying.”

Was he talking about Canada?

Climate ChangeOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Laurier—Sainte-Marie Québec

Liberal

Steven Guilbeault LiberalMinister of Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I assure my colleague that he was not talking about Canada.

We have a price on pollution that is among the most ambitious in the world. We have regulations on methane emissions, and we will cut those emissions almost in half by 2025 and by 75% by 2030. That is one of the most ambitious targets on the planet. We are investing in electrification and public transit, to decarbonize the aluminum sector in Lac‑Saint‑Jean and the steel and auto sector in Ontario and other parts of Canada.

Our plan is working. Emissions are already starting to go down and we will keep working at it.

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB

Mr. Speaker, thanks to failed Liberal policies like the carbon tax and trucking mandates, Canadian farmers are facing skyrocketing input costs on fuel, feed and fertilizer. The Liberals could offer relief. Instead, they are making it worse. The NDP-Liberal carbon tax coalition increased the tax on April 1 and still refuses to clarify its position on a 35% tariff on Russian fertilizer. Canadian farmers are being asked to feed the world as a result of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, but to do that they need clarity and they need certainty.

Once again, will the Liberals exempt the 35% tariff on fertilizer purchased from Russia before March 2?

Agriculture and Agri-FoodOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Compton—Stanstead Québec

Liberal

Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, we know that our government is ensuring that farmers in Canada are getting the support they need.

We are well aware that at this time, springtime, they need inputs and fertilizer. That is why we are doing everything we can to ensure that fertilizer arrives in Canada and gets to our farmers.

Last week, we announced the emissions reduction plan, which included $1 billion to support our farmers.

Natural ResourcesOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Conservative

Richard Martel Conservative Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, we learned this week that the federal budget will likely provide $2 billion to accelerate the production of certain minerals needed for electric vehicles.

Canada is not targeting phosphate, even though we can potentially mine it. Tesla has chosen to use a lithium iron phosphate battery. Phosphate must be part of the strategy. That is one of the recommendations of the Standing Committee on International Trade.

Will phosphate be part of the strategy and will it be entitled to its share of the pie?