Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

The Environment

Question period focused on the environment, with the Bloc Québécois raising concerns about legislation affecting environmental assessments of pipelines and energy projects (referred to as Bill C-39). Patrick Bonin said the bill removes impact assessments for pipelines and would let the government set aside environmental laws for oil projects, calling it the worst bill for the environment in Canadian history, and argued the tariff situation was being used to justify it. Julie Dabrusin, for the government, said environmental regulations were not being weakened, that fighting climate change requires doubling the electricity grid and building clean energy projects such as those Hydro-Québec is pursuing, and invited the Bloc Québécois to support that plan.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Patrick Bonin

Bloc Québécois
“I oppose this bill. It removes environmental checks for pipelines and lets companies ignore environmental laws. It is the worst bill for the environment in Canadian history.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just returned from the United Nations, where Secretary-General Guterres once again implored countries to phase out fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Canada introduced Bill C‑39, which gets rid of impact assessments for pipeline projects and makes it possible to permanently circumvent environmental laws. Greenpeace and Environmental Defence called it the “Bulldoze Nature” bill. Ecojustice called the bill catastrophic. No other bill in Canadian history has been worse for the environment. How can the Liberals sleep at night after defending such a bill?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Julie Dabrusin

Liberal

Linked statement

“We are not getting rid of environmental reviews. We are still fighting climate change. To reach net zero, we need to double our electricity grid and build clean energy projects. I want the Bloc Québécois to help us.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are not getting rid of anything. We are continuing to fight climate change. To do so, we need to build the largest clean energy project in the country. We need to double the capacity of our electricity grid. That is how we are going to speed up the electrification of the economy and get to net zero. We are doing the work, and I hope that the Bloc Québécois is ready to pitch in.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Patrick Bonin

Bloc Québécois
“I oppose this bill. It removes a five-year limit and lets the government ignore environmental laws for oil projects forever. The Liberals are using the tariff war as an excuse to help oil companies and make the climate crisis worse.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the House that, using Bill C-5, the Prime Minister gave himself the power to suspend environmental laws for his oil projects. Luckily, the Bloc Québécois managed to limit that abuse to five years. According to the Liberals, it was all in a bid to combat Donald Trump. Bill C-39 removes this five-year limit and allows the application of environmental laws to be suspended indefinitely. Why are the Liberals using the tariff war as a pretext to exacerbate the climate crisis and line the pockets of the oil companies?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Julie Dabrusin

Liberal
“We are not weakening our environmental rules. We are working to double our clean electricity grid, which is what Hydro-Québec wants. We need clean power to fight climate change. I want the Bloc Québécois to support this plan.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat this, because I believe it is very important. We are not rolling back anything when it comes to how effective our environmental regulations are. We are carrying out the work required to continue doubling our clean electricity grid. That, in fact, is what Hydro-Québec is asking of us. We need clean electricity across the country to achieve a carbon-neutral economy. That is what we want to do, and I hope the Bloc Québécois will support it.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 143

All 39 items ·
  1. Government Orders Building Canada Strong Act 111 statements
  2. Oral Questions Condolences 2 statements
  3. Oral Questions Taxation 7 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Environment 4 statements
  5. Oral Questions Public Safety 10 statements
  6. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  7. Oral Questions The Economy 18 statements
  8. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Artificial Intelligence 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Transportation 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Business of the House 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Taxation 6 statements
  14. Oral Questions The Economy 9 statements
  15. Oral Questions Intergovernmental Affairs 6 statements
  16. Government Orders Building Canada Strong Act 65 statements
  17. Oral Questions Fisheries and Oceans 2 statements
  18. Oral Questions Taxation 12 statements
  19. Private Members' Business Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act 14 statements
  20. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  21. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  22. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements