Amarjeet Sohi

[Natural Resources, September 24th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect a government to work hard to get our resources to the global market. We have a condition where 99% of our oil is sold to one customer, the United States. There is a fundamental responsibility that we expand the capacity to go to other markets. Canadians deserve well-paying middle-class jobs. That is what we are focused on. We will move forward on this project in the right way, respecting the environment and at the same time engaging with indigenous peoples in a meaningful two-way dialogue.

[Indigenous Affairs, September 24th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, there is no relationship more important to this government than the relationship with indigenous peoples, and that is exactly what we have been developing. We put a very strong framework in place, which the court acknowledged was a sound framework. Yes, we fell short on the implementation of that framework and we have committed to do better, and we will do better. We will engage with indigenous peoples in a meaningful two-way dialogue and listen to their concerns and offer accommodation where accommodation is possible. That is the only way to move forward.

[Indigenous Affairs, September 24th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the hon. member to look at the court ruling. The court has acknowledge that we put a framework in place that was sound and that we engaged in good faith with the indigenous peoples, and we will continue to do so. We have instructed the NEB to take steps to initiate the inclusion of marine shipping and the impact of that on the environment in the review it will undertake over the next 22 weeks, and we will be announcing our next steps shortly.

[Indigenous Affairs, September 24th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect us to work hard to make sure that we are expanding our resource market beyond the U.S. market. They also expect us to follow the highest standard possible engaging in indigenous consultations, as well as respecting and protecting the environment. That is exactly what we have been doing, and that is the course we will follow in making sure that we are moving forward on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in the right way.

[Indigenous Affairs, September 24th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, there is no relationship more important to our government than the relationship with indigenous peoples. I started reaching out to indigenous leaders before the decision by the federal court, and I have continued to do so. We believe that we will engage with them in a meaningful two-way dialogue and listen to their concerns very, very carefully in order to move forward on this project in the right way.

[Natural Resources, September 18th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, one thing that is absolutely clear from this ruling is that in order to build large energy infrastructure projects, we cannot ignore our constitutional obligation to properly consult with indigenous peoples. We also cannot ignore our obligation to protect the environment.

We will be coming back with a plan that will allow us to protect the environment, respect indigenous peoples' rights to be included and at the same time grow the economy and create middle-class jobs.

[Natural Resources, September 18th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, if the Harper Conservatives were in power today, there would be no TMX, because they are against the purchase we made for workers and getting our resources to global markets, and making sure that jobs are created for the workers and for British Columbians. We are going to move forward on this project in the right way, respecting the rights of indigenous peoples to be meaningfully consulted and at the same time protecting the environment. That is the path forward we are developing.

[Natural Resources, September 18th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the decision to ignore the impact of marine traffic on the environment was done by the Harper government. The decision to ignore the protection of endangered species was made under the Harper government.

The court has acknowledged that we put a framework together that was acceptable. We need to engage with indigenous peoples in a way that is meaningful. There is a two-way dialogue that allows us to find mitigation where it is possible to do so. That is exactly the plan we are putting forward.

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 17th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), regarding liability, the Pipeline Safety Act amended the National Energy Board Act and the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, which are both binding on Canada. Anyone that is authorized under the National Energy Board Act to construct or operate a pipeline would be required to adhere to the liability provisions under the act.

In response to (b), section 48.13(1) of the National Energy Board Act requires a company authorized under the act to construct or operate a pipeline to “maintain the amount of financial resources necessary to pay the amount of the limit of liability” that applies to it. While the act does not require the company that operates a given pipeline to actually put aside funds, the company—operator--has to satisfy the National Energy Board, NEB, as the regulator that it meets the requirement to maintain these financial resources and also that it is in compliance with any order that may be issued by the NEB as to the availability of these funds. This ensures that funds are available to respond to an unintended or uncontrolled release from a pipeline. This is consistent with the polluter pays principle and the government’s commitment to a strong pipeline safety regime. This requirement would equally apply to any federal Crown corporation if it were to operate the pipeline.

[Natural Resources, September 17th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, for almost a decade the previous government failed to build a single pipeline to expand our non-U.S. market. Ninety-nine per cent of our oil is landlocked because the Conservatives failed to explore and expand the global market.

We are committed to making sure that we follow the highest standards that Canadians expect us to follow when it comes to consulting with indigenous people, when it comes to protecting the environment. We will do so and build this pipeline in the right way.