Environment and Sustainable Development

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development met to study the environmental assessment and permitting process for the Port of Montreal’s Contrecoeur terminal expansion project, particularly regarding compensatory measures for the copper redhorse, an endangered species. Witnesses included David Bexte (a member of Parliament raising a point of order), Patricia Brady (Vice-President, Strategic Policy and Programs, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada), Julie Gascon (President and CEO, Montreal Port Authority), Dawn Farrell (CEO, Major Projects Office), Nathalee Loubier (Senior Manager, Contrecoeur Environment, Montreal Port Authority), Bram Sepers (Executive Director, Communications, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada), Julien Baudry (Chief of Staff and Vice-President, Communications and External Affairs, Montreal Port Authority), and Jeff Labonté (Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Natural Resources). The meeting also referenced Bill C-5.

Patricia Brady explained that the Contrecoeur project was assessed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, concluding in 2021 with 387 conditions, while the separate compensation plan for the copper redhorse fell under the Impact Assessment Act’s federal lands provisions, which require only a notice of intent posted on the registry, with the agency playing no direct role in those determinations. She noted that over 1,000 non-designated projects on federal lands are assessed annually by various federal authorities, and the agency’s role is limited to providing guidance and hosting the registry.

Julie Gascon described the Contrecoeur project as a generational project that will increase port capacity by 60%, create thousands of jobs, and support economic diversification, while emphasizing that it is one of the most regulated projects in Canada with extensive environmental commitments, including 27.7 hectares of fish habitat and 24 monitoring programs. She stated that the port has met all legal and regulatory deadlines, with permits from Fisheries and Oceans Canada received in October 2025 for the copper redhorse compensation plan, and that the project uses the lowest-carbon mode of transport, maritime shipping.

Dawn Farrell said the Major Projects Office, established two months ago, works to streamline permitting and structure financing for referred projects, and for Contrecoeur, the office’s focus is on arranging financing, not regulatory streamlining, as the project is already well advanced. She clarified that the office did not play a role in the federal lands assessment for the copper redhorse compensatory measures, and that no projects have yet been designated under the Building Canada Act as projects of national interest.

Nathalee Loubier confirmed that four potential sites were assessed for the copper redhorse compensation plan starting in May 2022, and that the feasibility study and hydrodynamic modelling showed the Île aux Bœufs site could compensate for the affected grass beds. She added that the first permit from Fisheries and Oceans Canada was received in October 2025, and the second permit is expected in November 2025.

Bram Sepers acknowledged that no alert was sent for the compensation plan consultation, but noted the notice of intent was posted on the registry for over 30 days, and that the notification system is a relatively new feature. He deferred to the port authority on the specifics of their public engagement activities.

Julien Baudry stated that the port complied with all legal requirements for consultation, including posting the notice of intent and holding public events, but received no verbal or written feedback during the consultation period. He confirmed that the port is not required to obtain municipal permits as a federal Crown agent, and that first nations provided written support for the project, though no impact benefit agreements were signed.

Jeff Labonté noted that assessments of projects for referral to the Major Projects Office were conducted throughout the summer by a working group of public servants, and that the projects announced by the Prime Minister are listed on the office’s website. He did not commit to providing internal communications between departments and the minister’s office regarding the referral process.

During questioning, witnesses disagreed on the adequacy of public consultation: Patrick Bonin argued the process was flawed due to the lack of an alert and feedback, while the port maintained it followed all legal requirements. On financing, Julie Gascon said the port had secured $280 million in federal and provincial contributions but was negotiating the remaining financing with the Major Projects Office, while Branden Leslie questioned whether the office was needed given the project’s advanced stage. On indigenous consultation, Ellis Ross noted no impact benefit agreements were signed, while Julien Baudry said first nations provided written support and changes were made based on their input.

The committee debated a motion by Patrick Bonin to demand the suspension of work affecting the copper redhorse’s critical habitat until a proper public consultation is held, citing irregularities in the consultation process. The clerk clarified that the committee can make recommendations but cannot compel the government to act, and the motion remained under discussion at the close of the meeting.