Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé questions federal government on TMX in Question Period on Oct. 7.

MP Monique Pauze: Madam Speaker, the government has cooked the books to hide the fact that it continues to sink our money into the Trans Mountain pipeline.

In the spring, the Minister of Finance announced that the government would spend no more public money on Trans Mountain. However, West Coast Environmental Law has revealed that the interest on the project's debt alone will cost us $750 million this year and $800 million next year. By the end of 2023, the total cost of Trans Mountain to taxpayers will reach, brace yourselves, $17 billion.

How much will Quebeckers have to pay for Canada to continue polluting?

MP Yvonne Jones: Madam Speaker, I think it is important for my colleague to remember that, if one really wants to address climate change, it means making bold moves and bold investments. When we consider projects such as the TMX—

Deputy Speaker: Order. There is a problem with the interpretation. Is the interpretation working now? The honourable parliamentary secretary can restart.

MP Yvonne Jones: Madam Speaker, I want to point out for my colleague that when one wants to fight climate change, it means one needs to invest to make it happen. When one looks at a comprehensive plan like we have as a government to address climate change, it considers projects like the TMX. It is focused on reducing the amount of oil that is being shipped by rail. It enables Canadians to secure a full value for its oil resources. Going forward, we will continue to focus on the best climate change measures we can implement to reduce emissions and fall in line with our net-zero commitments.

MP Monique Pauze: Madam Speaker, therefore fighting climate change means increasing the oil supply. We will have to remember that.

We have known since day one that the Trans Mountain pipeline is a financial and environmental disaster. However, we did not know that taxpayers would have to cough up $17 billion. Another $17 billion of public money will be invested in the oil sands as we find ourselves in a climate crisis. That is the price of letting the Government of Canada make decisions for us about how to invest our money in climate change.

Do they really believe that Quebeckers would have chosen to sink their money into a pipeline in western Canada that will go bankrupt?

MP Randy Boissonnault: Madam Speaker, as an Alberta MP, I know, as do western MPs and all Canadians, that Canada needs to get its resources to market, particularly at a time when we need to help fuel the world. When we get our resources to market, it will help us get the world price of oil, which will help us to fund the transition to net zero. Our government does not intend to be a long-term owner of this asset. We will be moving forward with a divestment process, and it will be a good asset for all Canadians.