Hon. Claude Carignan: Leader, for nearly three years now, I have been asking you questions about the landfill and illegal dumping on Oka territory, in Kanesatake.

Yesterday, after three years, you surprised me with your answer. You said, and I quote:

As this is partially private land, the government’s legal means for intervening are limited.

Your minister said basically the same thing in today’s edition of La Presse, namely, that it is private property.

However, I have before me an email dated May 21, 2020, from the office of Quebec’s Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, addressed to the Mayor of Oka, reporting on the situation at the Kanesatake site, which reads as follows:

Dear Mr. Quevillon:

On May 11, 2020, Indigenous Services Canada confirmed to our ministry that G&R Recycling is located on lands that are federally owned.

The email goes on to confirm that Quebec will not be responsible for the environmental liabilities related to this site.

Leader, why did your minister repeat to La Presse that the land is on private property? Why did you tell us that the dump was on private property, but you told the Quebec Minister of the Environment that it is on federally owned land and that he would not have to suffer the potential environmental problems?