Debates of June 9th, 2025

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

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will give the same answer to the same question. My job is to ensure that Canada achieves net-zero emissions by 2050 and that we always consider the environment when completing projects. That is what I am doing, and I am committed to doing so every day.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is talking a lot about protecting the environment while developing the economy, but I would like her to explain to me how a pipeline can protect the environment.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, once again, what we have right now is a bill introduced in the House that we can debate and vote on. It is about determining how we are going to come together as a country and choose projects of national interest. When a decision like that has to be made, one of the factors to consider is how those projects will contribute to—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Repentigny.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat my question.

How does the minister think a pipeline can protect the environment?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is not about choosing one project or another, and it is not up to me to do that. For all decisions to be made in the context of this bill to build Canada, the government will have to determine whether projects will help us meet our climate change objectives.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to come back to the idea of consensus on projects of national interest.

Does the minister believe that there can be consensus if a province opposes a project?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week, we witnessed a truly momentous occasion, something that Canadians want to see: the premiers of all the provinces and territories sat down with the Prime Minister of Canada to see how they can work together.

We must be united. We need to work together. That is something we are committed to every day.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like the minister to clarify whether she means to suggest that Quebeckers would agree to having a project to build a pipeline across Quebec imposed on them.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already mentioned, there was a meeting with all the provincial premiers last week. I had the opportunity to speak with Quebec's environment minister, as I do with the environment ministers of every province, to really find out what they think. What Canadians want to see is a united Canada, given—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Repentigny.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if the Quebec government rejects a pipeline project, will the government commit to abandoning any other projects that might be imposed on Quebec?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, I think that Canadians want us to work together. When it comes to national interest projects, Canadians want us to work together, not sow division. That is what our government will continue to do.

As for the legislation related to such projects, I hope that the member—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Repentigny.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, can the minister confirm that the government's bill on national interest projects does not give the provinces a veto over projects that could be imposed on them, such as pipelines?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to national interest projects, I would ask the member opposite to direct his questions to the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs.

What I can say is that our government is committed to working as one with all the provinces and territories—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Repentigny.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised that the minister is referring questions to the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, because this bill affects several environmental laws and would weaken environmental protections and even the fight against climate change.

That said, can the minister confirm that the current bill does not include conditions requiring any national interest projects to respect our climate commitments and the country's clean growth targets?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there are several factors in this bill, and I think it is important to take a look at them. While several factors relate to other areas, if we focus solely on the environmental aspect, it is clear that projects must "contribute to clean growth and to meeting Canada’s objectives with respect to climate change". That is in the bill.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to come back to these factors. Is the minister saying that these factors will have to be respected?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what I am saying is that certain factors in the bill must be taken into consideration, for example, consultations with indigenous groups and environmental issues.

Personally speaking, I am wondering whether the member opposite will lend his support—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Repentigny.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us whether the government will be required to respect the factors listed in the bill on so-called national interest projects or not?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what we as a government respect are the two things that Canadians asked us to do. Canadians want us to build a strong Canada with a strong economy while protecting the environment. This is not just about working together; it is also about getting it right.

[Patrick Bonin, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, for the record, the member is refusing to tell me whether the government is required to respect those factors. From what I understand, and I am not alone in this, it is not.

The Prime Minister used the term “decarbonized” oil. Can the minister explain what that is?