Senator Carignan: It’s because I drink that water, my family drinks that water, and my neighbours drink that water.

Senator Carignan: Leader, you know that you have the authority to intervene. You have the authority to make orders. You know that this matter falls under federal jurisdiction, from both an environmental and an Indigenous Affairs perspective.

For example, how is it that, in just a few hours, on June 22, 2016, you were able to make an order to suspend activities on private property to protect a frog habitat, but when it comes time to make an order to stop illegal dumping in the drinking water supply for over 500,000 people, you can’t do anything at all?

Hon. Claude Carignan: Leader, for nearly three years now, I have been asking you questions about the landfill and illegal dumping on Oka territory, in Kanesatake.

Yesterday, after three years, you surprised me with your answer. You said, and I quote:

As this is partially private land, the government’s legal means for intervening are limited.

Your minister said basically the same thing in today’s edition of La Presse, namely, that it is private property.

However, I have before me an email dated May 21, 2020, from the office of Quebec’s Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, addressed to the Mayor of Oka, reporting on the situation at the Kanesatake site, which reads as follows:

Dear Mr. Quevillon:

On May 11, 2020, Indigenous Services Canada confirmed to our ministry that G&R Recycling is located on lands that are federally owned.

The email goes on to confirm that Quebec will not be responsible for the environmental liabilities related to this site.

Leader, why did your minister repeat to La Presse that the land is on private property? Why did you tell us that the dump was on private property, but you told the Quebec Minister of the Environment that it is on federally owned land and that he would not have to suffer the potential environmental problems?