Discussion · Government Orders
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Québécois
“Under this bill, the minister can study a region, name it an area of national interest, and automatically approve projects there. The minister picks the committee and sets the rules for the study. I want to know if my colleague really thinks this is a thorough way to do things.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his contribution. I hold him in high regard. I would like to hear his perspective on the idea that the minister could conduct regional assessments and then designate a region as being of national interest. Once that happens, authorizations would be deemed to have been granted. Under Bill C‑39, all the minister would have to do to designate a region as being of national interest is conduct a regional assessment. The minister will set the terms of reference, select the members and constitute the regional assessment committee himself. Does my colleague consider this to be a rigorous approach?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his contribution. I hold him in high regard. I would like to hear his perspective on the idea that the minister could conduct regional assessments and then designate a region as being of national interest. Once that happens, authorizations would be deemed to have been granted. Under Bill C‑39, all the minister would have to do to designate a region as being of national interest is conduct a regional assessment. The minister will set the terms of reference, select the members and constitute the regional assessment committee himself. Does my colleague consider this to be a rigorous approach?