Discussion · Government Orders
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Québécois
“Federal and provincial rules overlap and delay new mines for years. A government minister said Quebec's environmental laws should take priority over federal laws. Does the member agree with that, or is the government ignoring provincial laws and Indigenous rights?”
“Madam Speaker, this summer, the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement said that Quebec’s legislation should take precedence over federal legislation where duplication exists. In projects of national interest, such as mines, especially in my region, this can prevent any duplication. The federal government asks for a thing, the proponent adjusts and, in the end, Quebec asks for something else that is consistent with environmental concepts but that is not the same. That is why it takes 15, 10 or seven years to build a mine, and that is a little too long. With that in mind, does my colleague agree with her colleague that Quebec’s laws should take precedence and be the only environmental law applicable? Alternatively, is the government essentially implementing what Bill C-39 contains, without the least consideration for provincial laws, environmental acceptability or the rights of first nations to be heard and to have their ancestral rights respected? What is happening now? Can the government respect the will of local communities?”
Madam Speaker, this summer, the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement said that Quebec’s legislation should take precedence over federal legislation where duplication exists. In projects of national interest, such as mines, especially in my region, this can prevent any duplication. The federal government asks for a thing, the proponent adjusts and, in the end, Quebec asks for something else that is consistent with environmental concepts but that is not the same. That is why it takes 15, 10 or seven years to build a mine, and that is a little too long. With that in mind, does my colleague agree with her colleague that Quebec’s laws should take precedence and be the only environmental law applicable? Alternatively, is the government essentially implementing what Bill C-39 contains, without the least consideration for provincial laws, environmental acceptability or the rights of first nations to be heard and to have their ancestral rights respected? What is happening now? Can the government respect the will of local communities?