Hon. Rosa Galvez: Minister, your mandate letter asks you to work with the President of the Treasury Board on the application of a climate lens to ensure climate adaptation and mitigation considerations are integrated throughout federal government decision making. I was pleased to see that because it was one of the recommendations I made in my white paper on a clean and just recovery. Infrastructure Canada already has a climate lens, but it applies only to projects that are part of clean infrastructure programs. It should apply to all projects and all policies.

Can you tell us what that climate lens will look like and what factors it will consider as part of government policy analysis? When can we expect the policy to be implemented in all government departments and agencies?

Hon. Marty Klyne: Minister, your mandate letter reflects the importance of partnering with Indigenous nations to fight climate change, conserve wildlife and safeguard freshwater. The Indigenous Guardians program is one such successful example.

I look forward to your establishment of a Canada water agency, especially as Saskatchewan has expertise in freshwater infrastructure and related agricultural issues. The First Nations University of Canada, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan also present opportunities to blend Western science and traditional knowledge toward innovative solutions in managing freshwater resources. Could you please comment on the value of Indigenous-led stewardship and the need to continue to work collaboratively with the Indigenous partners in the long term to protect our environment?

Hon. Salma Ataullahjan: Minister, most of the emphasis in your mandate letter is on what you will get rid of to combat climate change. Yet, there is precious little on what you will replace it with.

One of the best ways to get the electricity grid to net zero by 2035 is through nuclear power, an abundant and carbon-free energy source. Yet, in your climate plan I see no indication of what your government is investing in this energy source. While your plan clearly identifies close to $1 billion and more for wind and solar, all that nuclear gets is a mention of an action plan for small modular reactors.

Minister, why is nuclear power — a stable and safe source of carbon-free energy — such a low priority for the Trudeau government?

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: Welcome, minister. Your mandate letter requires you to work closely with the Minister of Natural Resources and his department in a number of areas, including energy sector emissions. On Monday, in the other place, Minister Wilkinson was asked whether Canada would help European democracies replace Russian gas with our own natural gas.

He replied, and I quote:

We are working very closely with our colleagues in the United States and in Europe to not only address short-term energy volatility but also to explore long-term energy options.

Minister, how do you see Canada’s liquefied natural gas exports to Europe fitting into our economic, environmental and national security priorities? Is this something you would support, especially in light of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine?