Question Period Note: GAZODUC - Natural Gas Transmission Line from Northern Ontario to Saguenay, Quebec

GAZODUC - Natural Gas Transmission Line from Northern Ontario to Saguenay, Quebec

• Our Government is addressing risks linked to development during project assessments so that good projects can proceed.
• On October 22, 2019, the Impact Assessment Agency accepted the initial Project Description from Gazoduq Inc. for a natural gas transmission line from northeastern Ontario to Saguenay, Quebec.
• The review process is being carried out jointly with the Canadian Energy Regulator and will meet the requirements of both the Impact Assessment Act and the Canada Energy Regulator Act.
• There will be opportunities throughout the impact assessment for meaningful engagement with the public, Indigenous groups, environmental non-governmental organizations, municipalities along the corridor and the scientific community in order to support informed decision-making.
• I am confident that the federal assessment process will identify and thoroughly assess potential effects, and provide for public participation and consultation with indigenous groups.

• Our Government is addressing risks linked to development during project assessments so that good projects can proceed.
• On October 22, 2019, the Impact Assessment Agency accepted the initial Project Description from Gazoduq Inc. for a natural gas transmission line from northeastern Ontario to Saguenay, Quebec.
• The review process is being carried out jointly with the Canadian Energy Regulator and will meet the requirements of both the Impact Assessment Act and the Canada Energy Regulator Act.
• There will be opportunities throughout the impact assessment for meaningful engagement with the public, Indigenous groups, environmental non-governmental organizations, municipalities along the corridor and the scientific community in order to support informed decision-making.
• I am confident that the federal assessment process will identify and thoroughly assess potential effects, and provide for public participation and consultation with indigenous groups.

• Gazoduq Inc. proposes to construct and operate a 780-kilometre natural gas transmission line from the TransCanada Mainline near Timmins in northeastern Ontario to a future natural gas liquefaction, storage and export facility in Saguenay, Quebec, operated by Énergie Saguenay. The natural gas would be destined for international markets.
• The Project is subject to public scrutiny in Quebec and already has important media coverage.
• Gazoduq is the first project that is likely to be subject to an assessment by a review panel under the Impact Assessment Act integrated with a regulatory review by the Canadian Energy Regulator (CER).
• The Planning Phase of the assessment began on October 22, 2019, and is being conducted collaboratively by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the CER.
• The Agency is leading crown consultation on behalf of the federal government and has identified 26 Indigenous communities that may potentially be impacted by the Project.
• The Project will supply the natural gas liquefaction plant of the Énergie Saguenay Project, which is already undergoing an environmental assessment by the Agency.
• The Énergie Saguenay Project and the Gazoduq Project are subject to two distinct provincial environmental assessments under the Quebec Environment Quality Act. The federal and provincial assessments will be coordinated to the extent possible under the Canada-Quebec Agreement on Environmental Assessment.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office