Debates of June 11th, 2025

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, what the government will do is get the one Canadian economy act passed. That is how we will get projects built. If the members across the aisle would like to see—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, when will they repeal the “never build anything, no new pipelines” bill, Bill C-69?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, that is not what the Prime Minister and the premiers seem to think. They got together, and they thought this was a great idea. They laid out the five criteria, which are in the act. That is how we will get projects built. That is how we will make Canada an energy superpower.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, that is an admission that Bill C-69 blocks projects. The government would not need Bill C-5 if it worked.

What specific projects will be of national interest?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister and the premiers got together, and they laid out five criteria. I can go through the five criteria if the member would like.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, what specific projects will be of national interest?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, the hon. member seems to be confused. The projects come after the bill is put in place. The bill would provide the certainty to unlock the conversations between—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, how do political, hand-picked projects give investors certainty?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, the politicians do not pick the projects. The projects come up through a consultation between our government, the provincial governments, indigenous peoples and proponents. When those four groups come together to put a project together, it gets considered for national interest.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, there are 28 energy and critical mineral projects in federal review, stuck, right now. Why not fast-track those?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, if the hon. member would like to see these projects accelerated, we hope the Conservatives support the one Canadian economy bill, and we will get going on those projects.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, is the Crawford nickel-cobalt mine in the national interest?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister and the premiers got together and unanimously agreed on the five criteria. We will run—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, is the Troilus gold and copper mine?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, again, the hon. member is proposing some hypothetical—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, is the Rook I uranium mine?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, again, the member seems to be confused that we are talking about hypothetical projects. The projects that will come forward are specific projects with the support of—

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, the minister seems to be confused. What I am talking about are current, real projects being proposed by real proponents stuck in the regulatory mess right now.

Is the Denison Mines project in the national interest?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, as soon as we get the one Canadian economy act passed, we will run it through the process and we will make that determination. We hope the members across the aisle will help us get that done so we can build the strongest economy in the G7.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Chair, will the minister release the national interest project list?

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, what will happen is that once the bill is passed, hopefully with the support of our colleagues, projects will be designated and they will be published.