Debates of June 9th, 2025

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

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, does the minister still support the unconstitutional ban on single-use plastics?

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Minister of Environment and Climate Change]

Mr. Speaker, there are certain single-use plastics that have been listed in a regulation, and that is something that we absolutely stand by as we look to the world moving in that direction.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals lose the court appeal, will they abandon their costly war on plastics?

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

Mr. Speaker, this gives me a chance to flag that we are in global treaty negotiations around the world, looking to how we move away from plastic waste. That—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Portage—Lisgar.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of global treaties, do you support a global maritime carbon tax on everything that we import to this country?

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would remind members to go through the Chair.

The hon. Minister of Environment.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, what I support and what our government supports is making sure that we have a competitive economy that meets the global moment we are in.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I agree that it is a great moment to reach, but according to Deloitte, the plastics ban the government is proposing would raise produce prices by 34% and increase food waste by 50%.

Given the rising food bank use and the cost of groceries right now, is that a good idea?

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

Mr. Speaker, the affordability crisis is in this moment that we have actually been working towards.

I have a question for the member opposite. Does he support a national school food program?

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Minister, in your—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Through the Chair, please.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in the minister's view, which is more environmentally friendly: moving oil by rail or by pipeline?

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

Mr. Speaker, my opinion on that is this: As we are moving towards a net-zero economy, we must always work to make sure that we are working towards national interest projects that take into account many different issues—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Portage—Lisgar.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a very clear question, pipeline or rail?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will go back to my initial point: It is not my job to choose the project. My job is to make sure that when that decision is made, the environment is taken into account.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I will keep it brief. You are more than capable of keeping time. I am here to listen to what the minister has to say, and I think the Chair can keep time. We do not need hon. members screaming “time” when the minister is trying to actually respond to the question.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Keeping the time can be a challenge, but I thank the hon. member for Kings—Hants.

The member for Portage—Lisgar.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, does the minister believe the NDP premier of British Columbia has a veto over pipelines to the Pacific coast, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure why the members opposite are moving away from wanting to celebrate what Canadians wanted to see, which is the unity between premiers and the Prime Minister that we saw last week.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of moving away, I will go back to the previous question: pipeline or rail? The minister should pick one.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is the same question and same answer: It is not my job to pick. My job is to make sure we take into account the environment in every decision we make.

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, as the environment minister, is the minister supportive of a new pipeline in Canada in any direction?

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

Mr. Speaker, the answer remains the same: My job is to make sure we take into account the environment when we are making decisions. My job as the minister of environment is not to choose specific projects.