Debates of Nov. 29th, 2007

Nathan Cullen Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada reports that spending by industry on capital investments to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions actually dropped by 35%. Oil and gas slashed its investments by 46%, while the power industry cut its investments by 96%. The government ensures that Canada will fall further and further behind.

When will the government stop following failed Liberal policies, and stop subsidizing and start penalizing the biggest polluters?

John Baird Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the government is working aggressively on massive regulatory measures against the large emitters, the large polluters in this country. For far too long we had a voluntary, hope everything went well approach. That is not good enough. That is why we are working aggressively to tackle climate change, something that did not happen for 10 long years under the previous government.

Nathan Cullen Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is a little sad and quite pathetic that after almost a year as minister, he continues to compare himself to a failed Liberal policy to measure up to Canadians.

The National Energy Board has said that his policy will not meet Canada's targets. Big polluters are not investing because the government refuses to regulate them.

How many regulations does the minister have sitting on his desk that he has not signed and why after almost more than a year has he not brought in one single regulation against big polluters?

John Baird Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, we signalled this past April that large final emitters, the large polluters in Canada, are going to have to reduce their emissions by 6% a year for the first three years of our plan and then a constant 2% improvement. We are working aggressively on these measures, as I know industry is as well.

Rob Nicholson Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I think we have made it very clear where the government stands on this particular issue. Inasmuch as the individual in question has now filed an application or started a lawsuit, I think it would be inappropriate to comment.

Dan McTeague Pickering—Scarborough East, ON

Mr. Speaker, that minister and his colleague in public safety have already made comments on this matter, to the detriment of Mr. Smith. In terms of what the minister's response has been and given his lack of respect for equality and justice before the law, he has indeed been walking away from the defence of a Canadian in terms of our own position with respect to the death penalty.

Will the justice minister admit that there has been a failure to study all the facts surrounding the Smith case and that the government's knee-jerk decision not to seek clemency is a complete disregard for the rule of law that he and his colleagues apparently believe in, and, that in this error, this may very well lead to the execution of a Canadian abroad?

Rob Nicholson Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the hon. member's question, but the individual in question has filed a lawsuit on this very issue with the Canadian courts and of course it would be inappropriate to comment.

Anita Neville Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, as we heard, National Parole Board documents show that the Canadian prisoner on death row in the U.S. for whom the government refuses to seek clemency did not act alone. His accomplice was returned to Canada long ago.

They were co-accused. How could the government make such a decision that clearly puts one Canadian's legal status and life above another's?

Rob Nicholson Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I think we have made it very clear that a lawsuit has been filed on this matter, within the last couple of weeks, I believe, and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment.

Anita Neville Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, it is not okay to brush this issue off with non-answers. The government's knee-jerk decision on this case will result in the death of a Canadian, a policy decision that a majority of Canadians does not support.

Did the government read the documents produced by the National Parole Board? If so, why did it come to such a quick conclusion in a case that is not exactly black and white?

Rob Nicholson Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

As I have said, Mr. Speaker, it would be inappropriate to comment.

Bernard Bigras Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment said yesterday, and I quote:

There are 13 provincial and territorial governments, and they are all entitled to take a position. I have the support of the House of Commons for my position.

This is totally untrue. What planet is the minister living on. What greenhouse gas has he been breathing? How can the minister make such statements when, for weeks now, the opposition has been criticizing the government, which is intent on killing the Kyoto protocol?

John Baird Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the government has been very clear. We laid out in very specific terms our position with respect to the environment and the need to work globally for a solution to climate change. We put it all in the Speech from the Throne and it was adopted by this House.