SoVote

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Member of Parliament
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Liberal

North Vancouver
British Columbia
Voting Attendance: 62%
Expenses Last Quarter: $134,232.65

Government Page

Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Oct/16/23 12:34:27 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, we need to move quickly on this bill. We are in a global race. It is important that Canada seize the economic opportunities and move to ensure that we are actually creating good jobs. It is certainly very important that we move it to committee to have a robust conservation and hear from witnesses. That is essentially what we are trying to do today. Once again, this is an enormous opportunity for Atlantic Canada. It is astounding to me that the Conservative Party is opposing this. I do suggest that they talk to their respective premiers, who support this bill and want to see it move forward.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:32:58 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I would say that folks in this chamber are certainly entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. The only climate target that the government has ever had was a 2030 target. We actually moved to upgrade that target from a 30% below 2005, to 40% to 45%. It is a target that we will achieve. It is the only target that we have ever had. When Conservatives stand up and talk about the fact that the Liberal government has missed a target, they are simply saying things that are not true.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:31:12 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, as I said, it is important to move this legislation to committee expeditiously and eventually out of Parliament in order to seize the economic opportunities that are there but will not be there forever. There are other countries that are looking at seizing those. I would say to my hon. colleague that, in terms of climate change, absolute emissions in Saskatchewan have gone up. They have not gone down. Saskatchewan is one of the few provinces in this country that has no climate target, in terms of actually reducing emissions by 2030. We would love to see Saskatchewan join the ranks of many provinces and territories in this country that have a fulsome climate plan that includes a climate target.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:29:27 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, as I said, this legislation was developed collaboratively with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and with the Province of Nova Scotia. The actions taken under the accord acts will actually be done jointly between Canada and each of those respective provinces. I would suggest to my hon. colleague that he may want to have a conversation with his premier about all these issues. To be honest, it is exactly the fact that they are not even willing to engage in a conversation about how the environment fits relative to economic development that shows the problem with the Conservative Party. It is willing to simply throw out the environment, to trample on the environment, in pursuit of only the economic opportunities. There has to be a balance. Economic opportunities have to be pursued in a manner that is environmentally sustainable. Canadians simply cannot trust the Conservative Party on the environment.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:27:29 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, certainly, provisions are in place to ensure that there are conversations with fishers and fish harvesters. There are a lot of examples around the world of how a thriving fish industry can coexist with an offshore wind industry, for example, in the United Kingdom. The whole point of this exercise, in terms of economic development, is to ensure that long-term, sustainable benefits flow to communities in Nova Scotia and in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is exactly why the premiers of both of those provinces are extremely anxious to see this move through Parliament, so they can move it through their legislatures and we can get going with respect to having a regulatory structure in place that will enable projects to move forward.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:26:22 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, this is a global race. The Public Policy Forum document that was published just yesterday or today shows the magnitude of the opportunity that is here. It is a very significant economic opportunity for Nova Scotia and for Newfoundland and Labrador. As I said before, I am astounded that the Conservative Party is actively campaigning against the economic future of Atlantic Canada. It is astonishing to me that it will sit in this chamber and, simply for the purpose of opposing this government, act against the interests of Atlantic Canadians.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:24:34 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, last week, the Supreme Court confirmed that Parliament can enact environmental assessment legislation focused on environmental effects that fall within federal jurisdiction. The offshore area is an area of federal responsibility that we jointly manage with the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador under the accord acts. This is a great example of co-operative federalism that we have managed jointly for over 35 years. We certainly work very collaboratively with all the provinces in Atlantic Canada that he cited. In fact, later today, the premier of New Brunswick and the premier of Nova Scotia will be sitting down with me to talk about exactly those issues.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:22:52 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, we have put in place protections and requirements for marine refuges and protected areas in line with international best practices. This will go a long way towards helping us achieve our marine conservation goals. This bill advances Canada's climate goals and provides joint management tools to better protect the environment.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:21:29 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I was speaking with the hon. member for Kings—Hants, who has sat in this chamber and listened to the debate on this bill over the course of the past number of days. No real suggestions have come from the opposition as to things it would like to see changed. If it does, it will have that opportunity at committee, where it can have a fulsome discussion and hear from witnesses. We certainly think it is important to have that kind of transparency, but it is also important for us to seize the economic opportunity. Canada is not the only country that is focused on it. This is a global race. We must move quickly. I would again suggest that the opposition have a chat with the Conservative premier of Nova Scotia.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:19:58 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, as we fight the existential threat that is climate change, we must have an economic plan for the future that is going to create good jobs and economic opportunity in every province of this country. This bill is an important part of doing that, particularly with respect to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. I would suggest to the hon. member that perhaps he sit down and have a conversation with the Conservative premier of Nova Scotia about those issues.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:19:29 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I would say that unlike the Conservative Party, the NDP and the Liberal Party are standing up for jobs and economic opportunities for Canadians in the context of a world that is going to look different as we fight— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:17:26 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, in terms of protected spaces, Canada committed to protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. When the government came to power in 2015, below 1% of marine areas were protected. Now it is close to 15%, and we are on a pathway to protect 30%. The hon. member will know that there are different types of protection, including marine protected areas, marine refuges and other effective area-based measures. There are different rules that apply to each one of those. Canada follows all the international guidelines and, in fact, is a leader in protection around the world.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:16:21 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I will start by saying I am very proud to have worked for a distinguished premier such as Premier Romanow, who was somebody who did enormously positive things for the Province of Saskatchewan after the previous Conservative premier, Grant Devine, virtually bankrupted the province. However, I would also say that it is extremely important that we are moving forward rapidly to fight carbon emissions and to build an economy that can be strong and create good jobs and economic opportunities for Canada and for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. This bill is about creating such opportunity in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. It is important that we have a plan to fight climate change and that we have a plan for the economy; the Conservative Party has neither.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:14:44 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I find my colleague's speech a bit odd. This bill provides for an offshore wind farm, a clean energy source that will, of course, be very important for the future of Nova Scotia's and Newfoundland and Labrador's economy.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:13:20 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I would say a few things. The first is that the legislation was developed in concert with the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. The mechanisms under that are joint mechanisms that would require the federal government and the province to agree on a range of different things moving forward. That is the essence of collaborative, co-operative federalism. That is the essence of how the offshore accord acts have worked for a long time. I would say to my hon. colleague that it is amazing to me that he would oppose something that is so important for the economic future of Newfoundland and Labrador. Also, if he is interested in discussing amendments, he should let this go to committee to have that conversation.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:11:14 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, this is an extremely positive and constructive example of collaborative federalism. This bill was developed in concert with the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. It is something they will be putting in place in their own legislation as this bill moves through Canada's Parliament. It is extremely important for enabling the economic future of those two provinces. It would create good jobs and economic opportunity. Again, it astonishes me that members of Parliament from Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia are opposing what is one of the great economic opportunities going forward. It is truly astonishing. They are standing against the premiers of their respective provinces, including the Conservative Premier of Nova Scotia.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:09:32 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, the hon. member has a very good question. I have to say that I was astonished the Conservative opposition would be in opposition to a bill that was developed with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is about enabling new economic opportunities and good jobs for the people who live in those provinces. It is part of the ongoing transition with respect to energy around the world. It is an opportunity not just about electricity, but also about hydrogen and helping our friends in Europe. It is astonishing to me that the MPs who come from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, in particular, are opposing this bill.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

Oct/16/23 12:08:09 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, we have debated this bill on a number of occasions at second reading, and we will debate it again this afternoon. It is important that this bill move to committee where it can be thoroughly examined and MPs can hear from experts on this bill. It is extremely important that we move expeditiously to capitalize on the enormous economic opportunities that are associated with offshore wind. Public Policy Forum released a report yesterday that showed just how important this is for the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. I would encourage my hon. colleague to perhaps have a conversation with the Conservative premier of Nova Scotia, who has worked collaboratively on this and wants to see it move quickly.

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Context: House Hansard - 232 - Oct/16/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lib.)

Oct/16/23 12:06:45 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, we have discussed this bill at length. We want to ensure that the Standing Committee on Natural Resources can have the necessary conversations. It is important to refer this bill to the committee.

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Context: House Hansard - 188 - May/1/23

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson

May/1/23 12:39:54 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-47

Mr. Speaker, I would start by encouraging my hon. colleague to look at Canada's critical minerals strategy, which has been lauded by business organizations and governments across this country. It will enable us to move forward in a thoughtful and strategic way. We, of course, need to be working to ensure that our regulatory and permitting processes are as efficient as possible. Certainly, what Stephen Harper did, by gutting the environmental assessment process, set us back a long way. The Impact Assessment Act enables us to take steps forward, but we are continuing to work internally. We are working with provinces and territories to expedite things. I would just note that the Mining Association of Canada, in responding to the budget, noted that Canada “is a leading mining nation, producing some of the lowest carbon materials and metals” and that this budget “recognizes our industry’s central role in [accelerating] the transition to a net zero economy and building [a strong economic] future”.

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