Climate Change

During Question Period on climate change, the Bloc Québécois leader said the government has given up on fighting climate change, pointing to the scrapping of the carbon tax, new oil pipelines, suspended environmental assessments, and dropped greenhouse gas emission caps, and asked whether anyone in the government still prioritizes the environment. The Liberal minister responded that her benches are full of members committed to fighting climate change, citing Canada’s nature strategy, methane regulations, international climate financing, new protected areas in British Columbia, one of the world’s cleanest electricity systems, and tax credits to help provinces build power grids. The exchange also included back-and-forth about the Bloc leader’s record on Anticosti Island and about the former member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, whom the Bloc leader said had tried unsuccessfully to change the government from within.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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7 statements

Yves-François Blanchet, Beloeil—Chambly

Bloc Québécois
“The government has given up on fighting climate change and forced out its best environmental spokesperson. I want to know if the government realizes it has gone too far.”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 43 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I never thought I would say this, but those of us with an environmental conscience end up missing Justin Trudeau every so often. I sometimes find myself thinking that the Leader of the Opposition misses him too, but for different reasons, and I am sure the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie misses those days. He has finally had enough of the government and the Prime Minister backtracking all the time and giving up on the environment. They have literally forced out a highly credible spokesperson on environmental issues. Does the government realize that its climate betrayal has gone way too far this time?

Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

Liberal
“Our government is ready to keep fighting climate change and protecting the environment. Canada is a world leader in this work, and we will continue it.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 41 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague that our benches are full of members who are ready and willing to continue fighting climate change and protecting the environment. Canada is a global leader for its efforts, its nature strategy, its methane regulations and its international climate financing. We are continuing to do the work, and we are doing it as a team.

Yves-François Blanchet, Beloeil—Chambly

Bloc Québécois
“Climate change is real. The government must stop building oil pipelines, cutting environmental protections, and dropping emission caps. I want the government to change its plans and fight climate change.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is indeed such a thing as climate change. We can combat the effects of climate change, but not by scrapping the carbon tax, not by funding new oil pipelines, not by suspending environmental assessments and abandoning biodiversity protection measures, not by scrapping greenhouse gas emission caps, and not by abandoning emission capping targets. Will the government start listening and reverse course on its huge climate betrayal blunder?

Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

Liberal
“The Bloc Québécois leader allowed oil drilling in the past, so he should not lecture us. Our government is protecting nature, including a huge new area in British Columbia. We also have very clean power and plan to double our electricity supply.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 36 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to take lessons from the leader of the Bloc Québécois, who authorized oil drilling on Anticosti Island. If the member wants to talk about the work we are doing here, Canada is a global leader thanks to the work we do. When it comes to protecting nature, we just protected an area in British Columbia that is larger than Prince Edward Island. We are continuing to make progress with our nature strategy. We have one of the cleanest power grids in the world. We plan to double its capacity through our electrification strategy, working with Hydro‑Québec and our other partners. We are getting the job done.

Yves-François Blanchet, Beloeil—Chambly

Bloc Québécois
“There was no oil drilling on Anticosti Island. The member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie tried to change Canada and this government from the inside, but he failed.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the leader that there has been no drilling on Anticosti Island. Furthermore, the member for Laurier—Sainte‑Marie attempted to change the government and Canada from within. He failed, though I commend his courage in trying. As he said, he had little to no impact under Mr. Carney’s government. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party’s environment caucus—

Yves-François Blanchet, Beloeil—Chambly

Bloc Québécois
“Liberal members care more about supporting the Prime Minister than protecting the environment. I want to know if anyone left in this government still cares about the environment.”
Official Hansard

I apologize, Mr. Speaker. I should have said “the Prime Minister”. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party of Canada’s environment caucus says that its job is not to talk about or protect the environment, but to support the Prime Minister. Now that the member for Laurier—Sainte‑Marie has left, is there anyone with an environmental conscience left in this government?

Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

Liberal
“Our team is united in fighting climate change and protecting the environment. Canada already has one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world. We will use tax credits to help provinces like Quebec build even better power grids.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will respond again. We have a team here. The benches are full of members. We are united in building Canada, building it well, protecting the environment and fighting climate change. What we are seeing is that, with the electricity strategy, as I said, we have one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world. When I spoke with Hydro‑Québec, they asked us how we could help them build better electricity grids in the province. That is what we will do through investment tax credits. That is exactly what we need to ensure we continue to fight climate change.

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