Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand before the House today to speak about the monumental agreement signed between the governments of Canada and Alberta.
We know that this country is facing a pivotal, once-in-a-generation moment and that to overcome the challenges of our time, we must bolster and diversify our economy, working hand in hand with provinces, indigenous groups and the private sector to achieve lasting prosperity for all Canadians.
This memorandum of understanding is proof that the federal and provincial governments can work collaboratively to enable and attract natural resource development while protecting the environment and respecting indigenous rights. This agreement includes important commitments that create a path to conditions for investment in western Canada and, at the same time, foster the means to lower greenhouse gas emissions and achieve critical environmental goals.
Canada's progress on climate targets depends on a collaboration across all levels of government. We are strengthening federal-provincial collaboration in the energy sector to achieve our Paris targets and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Canada and Alberta agreed on a new framework to build a stronger, more sustainable, more competitive economy while not backing down on our commitment to lower emissions and protect our environment. In this agreement, Alberta agreed to advance multiple ambitious clean energy projects and measures that will drive down emissions and build a more sustainable economy, including strengthened industrial carbon pricing, carbon capture, enhanced methane regulations, clean electricity regulations and ensuring that Alberta achieves a net-zero electricity grid.
By the looks of the motion before us today, the Conservative Party does not agree. The Conservatives have even had a chance to revise their motion through amendment and still refuse to see how important comprehensive climate action is to this country. What the Conservatives do not understand is that, for Canada to achieve net zero and be competitive at a global scale, we need to drive innovation and climate action across the country.
The agreement specifies how Canada will work with the Province of Alberta on the assessment of all major projects, including clean energy projects. The MOU confirms a shared commitment by Canada and the Province of Alberta to deliver a dependable, cost-effective net-zero electricity grid. It is contingent upon the completion of a new carbon pricing agreement with Alberta, which will be finalized no later than April 1, 2026. We are working with the clean electricity regulations, not around them, in collaboration with the Province of Alberta to get to a net-zero grid. Every province faces unique realities, and we are working closely with Alberta to find an approach that fits its needs.
This MOU also includes concrete commitments to ensure meaningful consultation with indigenous groups that may be affected by the development of major projects, as well as opportunities to advance economic reconciliation through indigenous ownership and partnership, so that all could benefit from this country's resources. In fact, the commitments in the agreement demonstrate that there are real opportunities for federal and provincial governments to work in the spirit of co-operative federalism to overcome challenges and create new opportunities to build a strong and resilient economy for all of Canada.
The one commitment in the memorandum of understanding that I want to speak about specifically is the commitment to sign a co-operation agreement on impact assessment with Alberta by April 1, 2026. It was only a few months ago that the first ministers met and agreed to work toward the effective and efficient implementation of the goal of a single assessment process, or “one project, one review”, that respects our leading environmental standards and indigenous rights for all major projects.
Co-operation agreements under the Impact Assessment Act are a key tool for creating an effective and efficient system that enables us to build nation-building projects faster and responsibly. They allow the federal government to rely on provincial processes in cases where the province confirms that its assessment or regulatory processes will address potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction. Importantly, co-operation agreements would enable the use of new and full flexibilities in the Impact Assessment Act to defer and work through provincial processes to achieve “one project, one review”.
Co-operation agreements apply when a project is subject to both a federal and a provincial assessment, which could include a project scheduled under the Building Canada Act. “One project, one review” processes may differ depending on the project, its potential impact and the provincial processes that would apply to it.
By working together under a co-operation agreement, we can streamline assessments and provide greater certainty to proponents, while maintaining the flexibility to implement the appropriate approach on a project-by-project basis and ensuring meaningful engagement with indigenous communities. Once it is signed, Alberta will join other provinces that have also committed to “one project, one review”, including New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Ontario, with which we are finalizing new co-operation agreements after a public comment period, in keeping with this government's commitment to transparency and engagement with Canadians. I am confident that we will soon have draft agreements ready with other provinces as well.
The commitment to co-operation agreements under the Impact Assessment Act began in 2019, with the first being signed with my home province of British Columbia. This has enabled most projects being assessed by both the federal government and the provincial government under the Impact Assessment Act to undergo a single assessment process. We have further extended this collaboration to improve coordination on permitting for critical minerals projects and continue to have a collaborative and productive partnership with British Columbia.
These agreements will be essential to achieving this government's commitment to streamlining regulatory processes for major projects so they can be completed in two years. Streamlined assessments for major projects do not reduce regulatory requirements, but rather focus the assessments on the most critical issues early in the process, instead of at the end, in order to inform mitigation strategies and decision-making. It would also be up to the federal government to provide guidance to proponents on early and meaningful engagement with indigenous peoples to address areas of concern well before any decisions are made and to explore opportunities for meaningful partnerships.
As stipulated in the agreement with Alberta, the government remains committed to reconciliation with indigenous peoples. I just want to touch on this a bit, because the Constitution has been talked about a lot over the last two weeks. Subsection 35(1) of the Constitution recognizes and affirms aboriginal and treaty rights in this country. I come from the Musqueam Nation on the mouth of the Fraser River, where that section was tested for the first time under the Sparrow decision, which proved that we had the aboriginal right to fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes.
Since then, we have come a long way in reconciliation, not just through jurisprudence, but through the commitment of reconciliation that we must work in collaboration and partnership. It was a sad day, almost 20 years ago, when the former prime minister stood up and apologized about residential schools. The Leader of the Opposition showed how he felt about first nations people by saying that they need to learn the value of hard work. He continues to show his disrespect to aboriginal people by calling them “our” first nations today in this House. I do not belong to anybody.
Indigenous people across this country have a deep connection to their lands, territories and resources, and the way forward is in partnership with them. The partnership of indigenous peoples in the impact assessment process is an essential way to fully understand the impacts of major projects, including impacts on indigenous rights, and to mitigate those effects to the greatest extent possible.
Under co-operation agreements, the federal government will coordinate consultation and collaboration with indigenous peoples through the assessment process. We will strengthen partnerships with indigenous groups by prioritizing early and meaningful consultation and upholding the principles of free, prior and informed consent.
It is important that we recognize that, across Canada, the lands and waters are the traditional territories of first nations, Inuit and Métis people. Indigenous peoples have cared for these environments for millennia, and their knowledge and leadership remain essential. Our journey toward reconciliation continues to be a priority for me, and it is one of the reasons I am standing on this side of the House today.
Standing in the House today to talk about this government's commitment to building one Canadian economy through co-operative federalism and reconciliation has been an honour. This government is pleased to work together with Alberta. I am confident that we will further strengthen our relationship and put in place the conditions necessary to collaborate on all future assessments and a cohesive climate plan.
