The Hon. the Speaker: Is leave granted, honourable senators?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2021, Question Period will begin at 3 p.m.

Senator Gold: Would the senator take a question.

The Hon. the Speaker: Point taken. I will take that under advisement. I don’t think there is any need to make a ruling on it. Thank you for raising it. Senator Moncion, did you have anything else?

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Gold, do you have a question?

Hon. Paul J. Massicotte: Welcome to the Senate, minister. As you know very well, 30 years ago, Canada was a global leader in managing climate change. Now, after the constant failures by all governments, we are the worst country in the G7. In a global context, last week, the IPCC once again sounded the alarm that we are reaching a point of no return. What are we to do, minister? Yes, I know you are a new minister and we have a new law, but after all these failures, how can we have confidence that, ultimately, we will be able to properly manage the enormous challenge of climate change?

The Hon. the Speaker: I’m sorry, Senator Coyle. You asked your question. You got your answer, and there are no supplementary questions.

[Translation]

The Hon. the Speaker: Just to remind you, honourable senators, there are no supplementary questions when we have a minister for Question Period, except the one supplementary question that is given to the Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, we welcome today the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, P.C., M.P., Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, to answer questions relating to his ministerial responsibilities. Pursuant to the order adopted by the Senate on December 7, 2021, senators do not need to stand. Questions are limited to one minute and responses to one-and-a-half minutes. The reading clerk will stand 10 seconds before the expiry of these times. Question Period will last one hour.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate, I move that the message be considered later this day.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this message be taken into consideration?

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, when shall this bill be read the third time?

(On motion of Senator Gold, bill placed on the Orders of the Day for third reading at the next sitting of the Senate.)

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Cordy, when we left this item yesterday, you were answering questions. Do you wish to continue to answer questions?

Hon. Pamela Wallin: The international consensus, minister, is clear — including experts such as the International Energy Agency and even your own colleagues, such as Minister O’Regan — that the path to net zero before 2050 must include the full range of energy solutions, including nuclear. You assert that Ottawa has no role and that only markets develop sources, but we all know that the federal government does have a role in recognizing, funding and ensuring the positive green impact from nuclear.

Minister, you have publicly and vociferously opposed nuclear power most of your life. Is that still your belief?

Hon. Steven Guilbeault, P.C., M.P., Minister of Environment and Climate Change: Thank you, senator. That’s an excellent question. You’re right, the government has begun to include the climate assessment piece in all our policies and decisions. We’re in the process of doing that all the way up to the cabinet level. We are currently developing the guidelines and the approach for implementing this principle, which we’re already using in some cases and some departments, but we want this to be whole of government. I hope that, over the next few months, we’ll be able to tell Canadians more about how we’re going to apply this principle to everything the government does.

The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, let me remind senators that I’ve been asked to adhere strictly to the timelines because we have a long list of senators who want to ask the minister questions. I’ve been strict with the minister and I’m trying to be strict with the questions as well. When I interrupt you, please stop so I can go to the minister for his answer.

My apologies, minister.

[Translation]

Hon. Clément Gignac: Welcome to the Senate, minister. I am very pleased to see you leading this department, given your background.

That being said, because of what is happening in Ukraine, people are re-evaluating Russia as a reliable supplier of oil and gas. I agree with the comments recently made by the Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney, when he said that the world needs more energy to come from liberal democracies. How can Canada successfully achieve its energy transition and target net-zero emissions by 2050, while also responding to this global demand to become a reliable producer? Thank you.

Hon. Steven Guilbeault, P.C., M.P., Minister of Environment and Climate Change: Thank you, senator. These are excellent questions. In fact, we are very seized with the situation of Parks Canada’s infrastructure. We are working with the Department of Finance to chart a path forward to address these issues as well as the issue of accessibility, which is a very important issue for me and my government as well.

[Translation]

Hon. Patricia Bovey: Welcome, and thank you, minister.

Honourable senators, we know the arts’ roles, impacts and voices are intrinsic throughout society, the environment and climate change being no exception.

Canada’s first environmental artist, in my view, was Emily Carr, heralded throughout the decades for her 1930s and early 1940s important paintings of clear-cuts. Today, artists continue to draw attention to dire environmental concerns while providing positive solutions, actions and partnerships.

Minister, tying your former role as Heritage Minister to your current one as Minister of Environment and Climate Change, how will you engage Canada’s creative sector in your efforts for Canada to meet its climate targets? Will you assist artists and arts organizations financially in bringing those measures forward?