One Canadian Economy Bill
Motion in Amendment Negatived
June 26, 2025
Therefore, honourable senators, in amendment, I move:
That Bill C-5 be not now read a third time, but that it be amended,
(a) in clause 4, on page 19, by replacing lines 28 and 29 with the following:
“(o) the Explosives Act;
(p) the Hazardous Products Act;
(q) the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act; and
(r) the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.”;
(b) in the schedule, on page 22,
(i) by deleting item 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 2,
(ii) by renumbering items 10 to 12 as items 9 to 11 and by making any necessary consequential changes to the numbering of cross-references to these items.
Honourable senators, I rise briefly to speak to the amendment proposed by Senator McCallum. I will respectfully urge colleagues to oppose it.
Our country faces an urgent and immediate crisis in the face of the ongoing American tariffs. The government received a strong electoral mandate to identify and expedite national projects that would transform the economy. This was central to the mandate letter issued by the Prime Minister to his ministers. It affects the legislative architecture of Bill C-5.
On the narrow issue before us, the proposed removal of this act from Schedule 2 and adding it to subclause 21(2) will inhibit the government’s ability to streamline the federal approval for national-interest projects. The provision of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act in Schedule 2 relates to the disposal of permits that are one of the most common types of federal permits required for major projects. Removing this from Schedule 2 would remove the ability to include it among other common permits in the streamlined, single whole-of-government approach that the national interest scheme is intended to deliver.
Further, no amendments of this nature were brought forward in the other place and this element was not identified by any specific stakeholder as part of the House of Commons or this chamber considering this bill. While I recognize that the intent behind the amendment is to ensure environmental protections are upheld, there are other mechanisms in place to ensure the environment is protected.
This is addressed as part of Bill C-5 in the following ways: The environment is one of five criteria in which any project seeking designation as a “project of national interest” is considered against. Regardless of the federal approval process, this has no impact on the consultation process for Indigenous people or any provincial environmental assessments. There is a serious political recourse for the government should they approve a project with unmitigated and serious environmental impacts; for instance, a report must be released, outlining the considerations and the decisions made by the designated minister.
Given the challenges that amendments will present to the scheduling scheme of the bill and the stringent environmental protection already in place, the government respectfully cannot support the amendment tabled by Senator McCallum. I ask you to vote against the amendment, colleagues. Thank you.
Are senators ready for the question?
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
All those in favour of the motion will please say “yea.”
Some Hon. Senators: Yea.
The Hon. the Speaker: All those opposed to the motion will please say “nay.”
Some Hon. Senators: Nay.
The Hon. the Speaker: In my opinion the “nays” have it.
I see two senators rising. Is there an agreement on the length of the bell?
Is leave granted, honourable senators?
The vote will take place at 11:45.
Call in the senators.
