Discussion · Government Orders
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Québécois
“I oppose this bill. It lets cabinet name whole regions where projects can ignore environmental laws. This will let companies destroy fish habitats and harm animals at risk.”
“Madam Speaker, as fall sets in here in the House of Commons, one bill is set to authorize the destruction of the environment in Quebec and Canada, at the whim of 28 people, namely, the Carney government’s cabinet. Bill C-39 does a lot of things, but I will focus on what I think is the most dangerous one: From now on, authorization will be given to destroy the environment not only for projects of national interest, but also for entire regions, regions of national interest. Some might say that I am exaggerating, but I am not. I will give some examples of what Bill C‑39 will do. Let us say that the government wants to launch a nickel mining project, a project that will destroy fish habitat. Destroying fish habitat is prohibited under section 35 of the Fisheries Act. However, if the government decides that the nickel mining project is in a region of national interest, there will be no problem, and the nickel mining project can proceed. Authorization under section 35 of the Fisheries Act will no longer be required. That is what Bill C‑39 proposes. I will give another example. Let us say that there is a proposal to launch an electricity transmission line project. The problem is that the line will jeopardize species that are already at risk. Take, for example, the Gaspé caribou, the warbler, the red knot, the lark and the plover. All of these species are currently on the list of species at risk set out in the Species at Risk Act. Well, if the electricity transmission line is located in a region of national interest, as determined by the 28 members of the Carney government’s cabinet, then there is no problem. Normally, a proponent would not be permitted to move forward with such a project under the Species at Risk Act—”
Madam Speaker, as fall sets in here in the House of Commons, one bill is set to authorize the destruction of the environment in Quebec and Canada, at the whim of 28 people, namely, the Carney government’s cabinet. Bill C-39 does a lot of things, but I will focus on what I think is the most dangerous one: From now on, authorization will be given to destroy the environment not only for projects of national interest, but also for entire regions, regions of national interest. Some might say that I am exaggerating, but I am not. I will give some examples of what Bill C‑39 will do. Let us say that the government wants to launch a nickel mining project, a project that will destroy fish habitat. Destroying fish habitat is prohibited under section 35 of the Fisheries Act. However, if the government decides that the nickel mining project is in a region of national interest, there will be no problem, and the nickel mining project can proceed. Authorization under section 35 of the Fisheries Act will no longer be required. That is what Bill C‑39 proposes. I will give another example. Let us say that there is a proposal to launch an electricity transmission line project. The problem is that the line will jeopardize species that are already at risk. Take, for example, the Gaspé caribou, the warbler, the red knot, the lark and the plover. All of these species are currently on the list of species at risk set out in the Species at Risk Act. Well, if the electricity transmission line is located in a region of national interest, as determined by the 28 members of the Carney government’s cabinet, then there is no problem. Normally, a proponent would not be permitted to move forward with such a project under the Species at Risk Act—