Question Period Note: Énergie Saguenay LNG Project

Énergie Saguenay LNG Project

• Canadians expect us to take meaningful action to protect the environment while supporting economic growth, not just for today, but for future generations.
• As such, our Government is committed to a federal assessment process that is robust, based on science and Indigenous knowledge, protects our rich natural environment, respects the rights of Indigenous peoples, and supports our natural resources sector.
• While the Government of Quebec has decided not to approve the Énergie Saguenay LNG Project, the Proponent, GNL Québec Inc., has indicated its intention to continue with the federal environmental assessment of the Project.
• The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada can only terminate the environmental assessment at the request of the Proponent.
• Nevertheless, the Proponent will be required to obtain all necessary federal and provincial approvals and permits to allow the Project to proceed.

• GNL Québec Inc. (the Proponent) is proposing the construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (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 the Province of Quebec. Operations of the Énergie Saguenay Project (Project) could start as early as 2025 and last at least 25-50 years.
• Gazoduq Inc. is proposing to build a new gas pipeline approximately 780 kilometres long from eastern Ontario to the Énergie Saguenay Project LNG facility.
• 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 are coordinated to the extent possible under agreements between the two levels of government.
• The Agency commenced an environmental assessment of the Énergie Saguenay Project on
January 15, 2016.

• Under the transitional provisions of the Impact Assessment Act, the environmental assessment of the Project continues under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (the Act).

• 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.
• Three Innu First Nations, the Huron-Wendat Nation, and Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation are being consulted as part of the environmental assessment.
• On July 21, 2021, the Government of Quebec announced that it would not be approving the Project, a decision formalized by an Order in Council published on August 11, 2021.
• Despite the Government of Quebec’s decision, the Proponent has indicated its intention to continue with the environmental assessment of the Project.
• The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada can only terminate the environmental assessment at the request of the Proponent.
• The Proponent will be required to obtain all necessary federal and provincial approvals and permits to allow the Project to proceed.
• The Agency published the draft Environmental Assessment Report on September 22, 2021, for a 30 days consultation period.
• A final decision on the federal environmental assessment of the Project is anticipated in late fall 2021/early winter 2022.

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