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The Environment

This was question period discussion of Bill C-39, which members described as a bill to speed up reviews of major projects, including pipelines and energy infrastructure. Bloc Québécois members said the bill favours oil companies, weakens environmental protections and endangered species rules, limits public and Indigenous consultation to a one-year window, and criticized Liberal and Conservative support for it, noting that a Liberal MP and some First Nations had spoken against it. Liberal members replied that the bill does not lower environmental standards or Indigenous consultation requirements, but makes the review process faster so clean energy projects can be built, supporting grid upgrades, heat pump programs, and net-zero goals, and said the government was open to improving the bill.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Gabriel Ste-Marie

Bloc Québécois
“I oppose this bill because it helps oil companies and hurts the environment. It removes environmental checks for pipelines, stops enforcing green laws, and harms endangered species. Liberals and Conservatives are working together to pass it, and that should worry people.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the ultimate proof that Bill C‑39 is a pro-oil bill is that the Conservatives voted for it yesterday alongside the Liberals. In Canada, the only time the Conservatives get along with the Liberals is when there is an opportunity to undermine the environment for the benefit of oil companies. When the Liberals propose getting rid of impact assessments for pipelines, suspending the enforcement of environmental laws and sacrificing endangered species, the Conservatives vote red. Frankly, that should worry a lot of Liberals. Who in this government ran for office intending to join forces with the Conservatives against the environment?

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Julie Dabrusin

Liberal
“I want the House to pass this bill. It will strengthen our electrical grid so we can use more clean energy and reach net-zero emissions.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I was in Sherbrooke to celebrate a great program that will help Quebeckers and Canadians access heat pumps. This is important because it will help us improve energy efficiency across the country. To do that, we need to build a stronger electrical grid. That is what we are doing with the bill before the House today. We are continuing our efforts to beef up the electrical grid, and we are working together with Hydro-Québec to ensure we can reach net zero.

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Gabriel Ste-Marie

Bloc Québécois
“The Liberals and Conservatives are teaming up to pass this bill to help oil companies. It lets ministers ignore environmental laws and limits public and Indigenous input to just one year. Even one Liberal MP has spoken out against it. I want more government members to admit this bill only helps the oil industry.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the Liberals and the Conservatives are joining forces to bulldoze over us with Bill C-39, for the benefit of the oil companies. Fortunately, opponents are starting to mobilize. The Liberal member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country has spoken out against his party’s bill. He is afraid that ministers will be able to unilaterally suspend environmental legislation. He understands that limiting consultations to one year amounts to setting a time limit on the involvement of indigenous peoples and civil society. Who else on the government side has the courage to say that Bill C‑39 is a pro-oil bill?

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Julie Dabrusin

Liberal
“This bill does not lower environmental rules or weaken talks with Indigenous people. It just makes the review process faster so we can build clean energy projects sooner.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 46 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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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I want to be very clear: There will be no lowering of environmental standards or indigenous consultation requirements. What are we doing? We are focusing on efficiency. That way, we can pursue critically important clean energy projects, like the one in Churchill Falls, which can generate enough energy to power every home in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. There will be enough energy to power all those cities combined. However, there is more. We are going to work with Hydro-Québec and with Quebeckers and Canadians across the country to make sure that we have clean energy.

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Patrick Bonin

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“I want the House to stop this bill. The Liberals and Conservatives are working together to speed up oil projects. Even some Liberals and First Nations oppose this fast-tracking. We must unite to protect the environment.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the Liberal-Conservative alliance in support of Bill C-39 is putting us on a fast track to dirty oil. If they are prepared to move quickly, then we must be prepared to act just as quickly. On Tuesday, the Liberal MP for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country condemned Bill C-39. Yesterday, the Cold Lake First Nations asked the courts to overturn the decision to fast-track the Pacific Link pipeline. We need to follow these examples. The Bloc Québécois calls on all those who still care about the environment to unite against Bill C-39. Is there anyone on the other side who still cares?

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Nathalie Provost

Liberal
“We care about the environment and we are fighting climate change. This bill does not lower environmental rules. It only updates the process so the provinces and the federal government can work together. We can still make the bill better, and we will.”

  • 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

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question, which is a very important one. We do care about the environment. We are committed to tackling climate change. These are important issues, but to achieve our goals, the whole of Canada must work together. That is what Bill C-39 is designed to do. Yes, there are ways to improve it, and we will do so, but Bill C-39 does not lower environmental standards. It amends the process. Once everyone understands the whole process, which involves the provinces and Canada, we will succeed. We will tackle climate change, we will have clean energy and we will build Canada well.

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