QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Parks Canada
June 12, 2025
Your Liberal government has made ambitious promises. One that raises serious concerns in Western Canada is the promise to establish at least 10 new national parks under the direction of Minister Guilbeault. I am certainly a strong supporter of our national parks and fully recognize the importance of preserving Canada’s natural heritage, but I am concerned that under Minister Guilbeault’s leadership, this initiative could be used as a back door to obstructing critical nation-building projects that your own government has promised to deliver.
How can you assure Canadians that the creation of new national parks won’t be used as a tool to block energy development projects essential to Canada’s energy security and economic sovereignty?
Thank you for your question and for underlining the importance of national parks and projects of national importance.
I think what I would say to your question is that this chamber and Canadians can be assured that this government is focused on the key priorities it has set out in the mandate letters to each minister, including the minister to whom you made reference, to show the Prime Minister how the work within their ministries will contribute to these national priorities. The national priorities, in terms of nation building, also include preserving this great country and its natural beauty for the future of our children and grandchildren. It can all be done together. This government is determined to do so.
Senator Gold, given Minister Guilbeault’s infamous activist past and his repeated efforts to prioritize his ideology over nation building, why does this Carney government continue to trust him with portfolios that have profound implications for national unity? Is this government’s purpose in creating new parks truly conservation or is it just pandering to radical activists at the expense of Canada’s energy future and economic cohesion?
Senator Batters, your characterization of Minister Guilbeault I think is unfortunate and one with which this government does not agree. The minister has the full confidence of the Prime Minister. His contributions — past, present and future — will serve the best interests of this country.
