THE SPECIAL SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING CANADA STRONG ACT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, October 19, 2026
(2)
[English]
The Special Senate Committee on the Building Canada Strong Act met this day at 12:01 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Fabian Manning, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boehm, Clement, Cuzner, Gignac, Manning, Martel, Miville-Dechêne, Mohamed, Patterson, Prosper, Quinn, Wilson and Yussuff (13).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Duncan (1).
The chair informed the committee of the tragic events that occurred at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and the committee observed a minute of silence.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the committee began its study of the subject matter of Bill C-39, An Act respecting certain measures to strengthen the economy.
WITNESSES:
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada:
Terence Hubbard, President;
Stéphanie Johnson, Acting Vice-President, Strategic Policy and Programs Sector.
Canada Energy Regulator:
Tracy Sletto, Chief Executive Officer;
Jonathan Timlin, Vice President, System Operations;
Carly Milne, Vice President, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation;
Sean Maher, Professional Leader, Environment and Socio-economics.
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission:
Pierre Tremblay, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Dean Haslip, Vice-President and Chief Science Officer;
Colin Moses, Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs Branch and Chief Communications Officer.
West Coast Environmental Law:
Anna Johnston, Staff Lawyer.
Electricity Canada:
Michael Powell, Vice President, Government Relations.
Canadian Renewable Energy Association:
Fernando Melo, Director, Policy and Government Affairs section (by videoconference).
Canadian Nuclear Association:
George Christidis, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Terrence Hubbard, Tracy Sletto and Pierre Tremblay each made a statement and answered questions.
As individuals:
Robert Gibson, Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo.
Arlene Kwasniak, Professor Emerita of Law, University of Calgary (by videoconference).
At 1:18 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:27 p.m., the committee resumed.
Robert Gibson, Arlene Kwasniak and Anna Johnston each made a statement and answered questions.
At 2:35 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:44 p.m., the committee resumed.
Michael Powell, Fernando Melo and George Christidis each made a statement and answered questions.
At 3:47 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Vincent Labrosse
Clerk of the Committee