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.
• The Énergie Saguenay Project underwent a rigorous review that clearly demonstrates the adverse environmental effects of the project outweigh its benefits.
• Our Government will continue working with Saguenay communities and prospective investors on environmentally sustainable projects that deliver economic benefits for the region.

• GNL Québec Inc. (the Proponent) 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 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 Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (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 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.

• The Agency finalized the Environmental Assessment Report in the Fall 2021, after a 30 days public consultation period on the draft report.
• On December 9, 2021, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (the Minister) determined that the Project was likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects on marine mammals, including the St. Lawrence beluga whale, the cultural heritage of the Innu First Nations and greenhouse gas emissions
• Under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (2012), the Governor in Council was required to determine whether these effects were justifiable in the circumstances before the Minister could issue a decision statement.
• After careful consideration of the available and relevant information and Indigenous knowledge provided by the First Nations involved in the environmental assessment, the Governor in Council has determined that the effects of the project are not justifiable in the circumstances and that the Minister, the project cannot proceed.

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