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Natural Resources

During question period on natural resources, the Bloc Québécois asked about reports that the government wants to put public money, including Quebec’s share, into new oil pipelines, saying no private company is interested because oil demand is expected to peak soon and the projects would not be profitable. The party argued money should go to clean technology and the energy transition instead, and said Quebeckers do not identify with oil-driven nationalism. The Liberals said the Prime Minister’s economic nationalism means controlling Canada’s own economic levers during trade conflicts, pointing to investments in a wealth fund, natural resources and renewable energy. They also listed investments in Quebec, including mining projects such as Nouveau Monde Graphite and port expansions, saying these would create tens of thousands of jobs.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“The Prime Minister is spending billions of public dollars on new oil pipelines. People in Quebec do not want pipelines, and they should not have to pay for them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister explained that he wants new pipelines because he is a nationalist. Canadian nationalism means dirty oil. Quebeckers do not identify with that and should not have to pay for it either. Last week, Ottawa confirmed that it wants to allocate $10 billion in public funds for a new pipeline. Yesterday, the Prime Minister put $25 billion into a sovereign wealth fund that looks more like a gimmick designed to finance oil companies. Does he realize that no matter how many maple leaves he slaps on the pipelines, Quebeckers simply will not want them?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The Prime Minister believes in protecting our own economy so we can control our future and handle trade wars. That is why we are investing in a wealth fund, natural resources, and renewable energy to help people in Quebec and across Canada.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, indeed, in an interview with La Presse, the Prime Minister said that he was a nationalist and that he advocates economic nationalism. What does that mean? Essentially, it means being in control of our own destiny, being able to use the levers of our economy to help our own people while managing a trade war. It is under those circumstances that we announced a sovereign wealth fund. It is also under these circumstances that we are investing in our natural resources, as well as in renewable energy. That is why our investments will have an impact across Quebec and across the country.

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Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“Private companies will not build a new western pipeline because oil demand will peak soon and it will not make money. The government should not spend billions of public dollars, including Quebeckers' money, on a project that will not be profitable. We should fund clean technology instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of buzz in Ottawa about building a new pipeline in western Canada, but no one in the private sector is interested because demand for oil is going to peak in 2029. It is not profitable. What is profitable is investing in the transition, funding clean technologies, and funding climate change adaptation, yet the Prime Minister of Canada tells us that, in the name of Canadian nationalism, we should add $10 billion in public funds to build a new pipeline, even though it is not profitable. If the private sector does not think it is profitable, then why would the government invest Quebeckers’ money in it?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We are investing in Quebec, including in mining and port projects. These projects will create tens of thousands of jobs and help the economy.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • A repeated line

    “The expansion of the Port of Montreal.”

    Said 7 times by 5 members since April 28.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is because Canada is investing in Quebec and we will also be undertaking major projects in the mining sector in Quebec. There is Nouveau Monde Graphite, which represents thousands of jobs, the designation of the Port of Québec as a first port of arrival for our country, and the expansion of the Port of Montreal, which will increase capacity in Contrecœur by 60%. These are megaprojects that represent tens of thousands of jobs and economic opportunities for Quebeckers. We are investing. That is what economic nationalism is all about, and that is good for Quebec.

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