Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of Long Range Mountains and on behalf of Canadians across the country to speak to Bill C-241, an act to establish a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, our connection to water is part of our identity. In fact, we are one of only a few places in the world that has an island on an island on an island. We are literally surrounded by water. It shapes our history, our communities and our livelihoods. It is a part of who we are.
This bill would require the Minister of Environment to work with provinces, territories, indigenous governments, municipalities and industry partners to develop a coordinated national strategy for forecasting floods and droughts. Its purpose is to improve how Canada gathers and shares data to identify infrastructure at risk and strengthen our ability to anticipate and respond to extreme water events before they become disasters.
That is a goal every Canadian can understand. Whether they live beside the Fraser River, the Red, the Humber, or along the rugged coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, every Canadian knows what water can give and what it can take away. It connects us and sustains us. When it turns against us, it reminds us of how small we are against the power of nature. It also reminds us how strong we are when we face it together.
In Long Range Mountains, we have lived that truth many times. This past June, a severe rainstorm washed out major sections of road on the great northern peninsula, isolating multiple coastal communities. People found themselves cut off from emergency services, food and work simply because every road in and out was underwater or damaged. When the road is gone, so is the ability to move, and families are left waiting and worrying.
We also remember the devastation caused by hurricane Fiona in Port aux Basques in September 2022. Homes were torn away from their foundations and shorelines were carved away. We are still rebuilding today. Entire neighbourhoods were changed forever. That is how quickly water can reshape a community and the lives within it. Even before that, in November of 2021, storm after storm soaked western Newfoundland and Cape Breton, causing destructive flooding, damaged roads and infrastructure collapse. Every one of these events is a reminder that, whether there is too much water or too little, the results can be equally devastating.
This year, drought has been the challenge. Producers across Newfoundland and Labrador have endured one of the most difficult seasons in memory. Dairy, forage, fruit, vegetable, berry and honey producers have watched feed supplies vanish and transport costs soar. They are resilient, but they cannot do it alone.
Earlier this month, I wrote to the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador and to the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture to support their members during this crisis. I pointed to the AgriRecovery program as proof that co-operation between federal and provincial governments works when disaster strikes. A strong forecasting strategy could help those same producers act sooner to protect crops, animals and livelihoods before the damage is done. Better information leads to faster action and smarter recovery. Information saves dollars and early warning signs saves lives.
That is why we will support Bill C-241 at second reading, so that it can move forward to committee. We agree in principle, but we will insist that this is done responsibly. This strategy must use existing departmental resources. Canadians cannot afford another bureaucracy. It has to be about coordination and efficiency, not expansion.
As a member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, I have seen how effective policy depends on fiscal discipline and respect for jurisdiction. Conservatives believe that protecting the environment and growing the economy can and must go hand in hand. At committee, we will press for guarantees that this strategy respects provincial and indigenous authority, builds on existing systems and delivers measurable results.
Floods and droughts may not stop at borders, but jurisdiction matters. The provinces and indigenous governments already manage their own water systems. Ottawa's role should be to coordinate and connect, not to control. Canadians do not need more taxes to change the weather. They need a government that helps them prepare for it.
Canada already leads the world in clean energy and responsible resource development. We should build on that success through partnership, not punishment.
A national forecasting strategy done well can give farmers, engineers and local officials access to reliable data before a crisis hits. When everyone has the same information, decisions are faster and communities are safer. Forecasting is not political; it is practical. By improving our ability to anticipate risk, we can prevent hardship, lower recovery costs and protect Canadians before disaster strikes.
We also believe that private insurance should be the first line of protection; taxpayers should not be footing the bill after every flood or drought. With accurate mapping and forecasting, insurers can assess risk fairly, homeowners can find affordable coverage, and public disaster funds can focus on the truly extraordinary events. That is fairness and fiscal responsibility working together.
Before entering public life, I spent years working in real estate, first in sales and later as a broker leading a team of agents across our communities. l spent countless hours looking at market data, helping my agents and clients understand the real costs of home ownership and the risks that come with it. l have seen first-hand how a single flood or storm can wipe out years of investment and how confusion over insurance or lack of affordable coverage leaves families exposed. That is why this issue matters to me, because protecting homes means protecting people's stability and their future.
The strategy must serve all of Canada, from large cities to rural, coastal and northern communities. When a road washes out on the Great Northern Peninsula or a drought forces farmers to import feed at enormous cost, the impact is equally real. Rural and agricultural voices must be part of the design.
Conservatives have long supported practical environmental stewardship. Since 2019, our party has called for co-operation with the provinces and territories to identify and protect key aquifers and improve water quality. Bill C-241 fits within that vision, provided it remains grounded in accountability and respect for jurisdiction.
Across Canada, from the farm fields of the Prairies to the coastal communities of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canadians share a deep respect for water. lt sustains our families, our farms and our communities. lt also reminds us that strong planning and strong partnerships are essential. We are learning that water can be unpredictable. Storms are stronger, droughts last longer and the costs continue to rise. That is why the legislation matters. lt gives us an opportunity to modernize how we prepare and respond, without adding more red tape or waste.
At the environment committee, Conservatives will focus on outcomes, not optics. We will push for measurable timelines, standardized data sharing, integration of indigenous water knowledge and transparent reporting to Parliament. We will hold the government accountable to ensure that the strategy delivers real results for Canadians.
Canadians understand the value of preparation. They know that good planning beats panic and that co-operation achieves more than division. We cannot control the storms, but we can control how ready we are when they come. That is what leadership looks like: practical, prepared and proud to protect Canadians.
Conservatives will support Bill C-241 at this stage because we believe in common-sense solutions that protect Canadians but also respect taxpayers. Let us build a strategy that does not grow government but grows Canada's capacity to face whatever tomorrow brings.