Question Period Note: Énergie Saguenay LNG Project

Énergie Saguenay LNG Project

• Our Government is addressing risks of development through robust project assessments so that good projects can proceed.

ÉNERGIE SAGUENAY LNG PROJECT

o The Project is currently undergoing a federal environmental assessment by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada under the Canadian Environmental Evaluation Act, 2012.

o I am confident that this process will identify and thoroughly assess potential environmental effects and provide for public participation and consultation with Indigenous groups.

o The Agency requested information from the proponent in October 2019, which is necessary to conduct the environmental assessment of the Project, and is awaiting a response.

• GNL Québec Inc. is proposing the construction and operation of a natural gas liquefaction (LNG) facility and export terminal with a production capacity of 11 million tonnes per year, in the City of Saguenay, near the Saguenay Port Authority facilities in Quebec. Operations could start in 2025, and would last at least 25-50 years.
• The Agency commenced an environmental assessment on January 15, 2016. The Agency submitted information requests to the Proponent on its environmental impact study in August and October 2019, and will resume its environmental assessment once responses are received.
• Under the transitional provisions of the Impact Assessment Act, the environmental assessment of the Energy Saguenay Project continues under the Canadian Environmental Assessment
Act, 2012.
• Three Innu First Nations and the Huron-Wendat Nation are being consulted under the Project.
• The environmental assessment includes the analysis of the environmental effects of Project-related marine shipping and the analysis of direct and upstream greenhouse gas emissions that are linked to the Project.
• Gazoduq Inc. is proposing to build a new gas pipeline approximately 780 kilometres long from eastern Ontario to the LNG Énergie Saguenay Project.
• The Energie 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