Government Priorities

This question period exchange was about Bill C-39, which the Bloc Québécois described as a roughly 250-page omnibus bill rolling back environmental protection, labour rights, science, intergovernmental relations and Indigenous reconciliation, and which a Bloc member said would let pipelines proceed while bypassing environmental laws and limits on consultations. Bloc Québécois members urged Liberal backbenchers and the public to oppose the bill, and cited a Liberal member who had criticized it. Government ministers argued instead that the bill would speed up renewable energy projects, hydroelectric development at Churchill Falls and Gull Island, and a high-speed rail project connecting four of Quebec’s largest cities, and invited the Bloc to support building major projects.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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3 statements

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“I want the Bloc Québécois to vote for this bill. It will speed up renewable energy projects and hydroelectric work at Churchill Falls. This will help Canada and Quebec become leaders in energy.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada, including Quebec, is determined to become a superpower in conventional and renewable energy. That is why I urge the Bloc Québécois to vote in favour of Bill C‑39 to accelerate renewable energy projects and the hydroelectric development in Churchill Falls, where the Government of Canada and the 44 Quebec MPs have advocated for a generational investment in the future of Quebeckers.

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

Liberal
“I want the Bloc Québécois to support this bill. Quebec has a history of building big projects, like dams and shipping ports. The Bloc should support building things instead of opposing them.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised by what my colleague said. There was a time when the Bloc Québécois stood up for a Quebec that builds, a Quebec that thinks big, that takes its place inside the country and around the world. Think of Quebec’s great builders, of hydroelectricity, of Mr. Bourassa, of the Contrecœur project now in progress. For once, could we hear the Bloc Québécois talk about a strong Quebec, one that builds and takes its place? On this side of the House, we, the members from Quebec, will be there to defend the interests of Quebec.

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“I want the Bloc Québécois to support the high-speed train project. It will connect four of Quebec's biggest cities and help people travel for school and work.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, beyond thinking big, as my colleague so aptly put it, and beyond the next James Bay project, which is at Churchill Falls and Gull Island, beyond all that, there is the high-speed rail project. It will connect four of Quebec’s largest cities and will be a game-changer for people across Quebec, whether they are studying, working or visiting one of our municipalities or major urban centres. I urge the Bloc Québécois to get onboard with the high-speed train. May it think big for Quebec and support the Alto project.

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