Debates of June 5th, 2014

Privacy

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, it has been approximately, I do not know, 30 seconds since the last time they asked that question. It is going to be the exact same answer.

The Government Operations Centre monitors any event that may be of risk to public safety. I think that most Canadians in this country would expect nothing less.

The Environment

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Environment Day.

Every June 5 since 1973, the United Nations has created a theme to raise global awareness about environmental issues, such as climate change. This year's theme is “Raise your voice, not the sea level”. The most effective way to stop rising sea levels is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Will the government finally commit to regulating greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, building on our record we will continue to work with the United States on reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the oil and gas sector. Our countries should be working together and taking action together, not alone.

This is consistent with what we are already doing by aligning with the United States on the greenhouse gas emissions regulations in the transportation sector. For example, 2025 passenger vehicles and light trucks will emit about half as much greenhouse gas in Canada compared to the 2008 models.

[François Choquette, NDP, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if things keep going the way they are now, we will not have standards for the oil and gas sector until after the flood.

In 2012, the Conservatives drafted questions and answers in response to a study on contaminants that accumulate in the snow near oil sands operations. They claimed that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that accumulate are no worse than what is found on a barbecued steak. However, a new study has found that mercury levels in the water and ground are 13 times higher in those areas than elsewhere.

Will they stop ignoring pollution, which has serious implications for the health of Albertans?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, Canada accounts for less than 2% of global greenhouse gases, and for this reason, Canada is pursuing an international agreement on climate change that includes real action by all emitters.

In the meantime, our government is doing its part domestically by taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. We have already taken action on the two largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in our country, and that is in the transportation sector and the electricity generation sector. Thanks to our actions, we will see a reduction in--

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Burnaby--Douglas.

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, at least the minister spared us the “grilled steak” line that she has been forcing her staff to parrot on this issue.

The question still remains. A government study confirms raised mercury levels surrounding the oil sands. It actually calls it a bull's eye around the oil sands. The scientist who wrote the report is mysteriously unavailable for comment.

Will the minister spare us the rhetoric and instead unmuzzle our scientists so Canadians can hear the truth?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, Environment Canada scientists are part of the committee that conducted that study and that report.

Our government has made responsible resource development a priority. We have worked with the Province of Alberta to launch a world-class scientific monitoring system on the oil sands. This is transparent. It is a public process. We have some of Canada's top scientists involved.

The report shows our plan is working. We will continue to be transparent and promote independent scientific assessment and evaluation, demonstrated again by--

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Victoria.

Natural Resources

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, first nations, municipalities, and British Columbians have overwhelmingly said no to northern gateway. Now we have 300 scientists from around the world saying that the joint review panel has so many errors and omissions it cannot be used to make decisions about the pipeline. In fact, they have urged the Prime Minister, and I quote, “...in the strongest possible terms to reject this report”.

What is it going to take for the government to finally say no to northern gateway?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, the joint review panel has submitted its report with 209 conditions. Projects will only be approved if they are safe for Canadians and safe for the environment. We are carefully reviewing this report, and a decision will be forthcoming.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives told us that they stubbornly refuse to listen to B.C. municipalities, refuse to listen to virtually every single first nation across B.C. and Alberta, and refuse to listen to the two-thirds of British Columbians who consistently say no to Enbridge northern gateway.

Fully one in five of those who are rejecting this pipeline voted Conservative in the last election. We know the Conservatives refuse to listen to the economics, refuse to listen to environmental concerns, but we know they love their politics, so maybe they will pay attention to the politics.

When are they going to stand up, listen to British Columbians, and say no to this bad idea?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, our government will thoroughly review the joint panel report with its 209 conditions. We will continue to consult with first nations communities prior to making any decisions.

We are proud of the action we have taken to ensure that Canada has a world-class regulatory framework and a means for the safest form of transportation of our energy products. We have been clear that projects will only proceed if they are safe for Canadians and safe for the environment.

International Trade

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister flew to Brussels amid great fanfare last October to sign an agreement in principle on the European trade deal, but that deal has now stalled, and when we requested the documents signed in public by the Prime Minister, the Privy Council Office replied that, quote, “no records relevant to the request were found”.

Did the Prime Minister sign anything at all in October, or was it merely an expensive photo op with no substance behind it?

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for that question. She knows, and the reality is, that we have released the details of this agreement. They were tabled in the House. The minister has them, or at least I think she should have them. However, if she does not, I will happily send her a copy.

Natural Resources

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member can only dream of having the credibility of my colleague.

The Liberals are firmly opposed to the northern gateway pipeline project. As our leader said, while governments may grant permits, only communities can grant permission, but instead of listening to the people, the Conservative government demonized them. It tried to paint schoolchildren, tourism operators, first nations, and B.C. citizens as radicals.

Now hundreds of leading scientists have spoken out against this pipeline. Will the government do what is right and reject this ill-conceived project? When will the Conservative members speak up for their communities?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, the joint review panel has submitted its report with 209 conditions. Projects will only be approved if they are safe for Canadians and safe for the environment. We are carefully reviewing this report, and a decision will be forthcoming.

The Environment

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, President Obama led on GHG regulations for the transportation industry. The Prime Minister followed.

Similarly, Ontario led on coal-fired electricity generated emissions, and similarly, the Prime Minister has been taking credit ever since—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood still had a few seconds left to finish his question before some ministers tried to answer it. Once again, I will ask them to wait until the question has been asked.

The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, similarly, this week, President Obama initiated regulations with respect to the coal industry. Taking credit where credit is not due, and following, not leading, is not leadership.

Will the Minister of the Environment tell us when she last initiated a meeting with the leaders of the oil and gas industry?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome the move of the United States. We took action on this sector two years ago, which means that our regulations came into effect sooner than the United States'.

We also estimate that we will achieve a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in this sector by 2030, compared to 30% in the United States. We also have one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world, with 77% of our electricity supply emitting no greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 33% in the United States.

Government Appointments

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a young MP once asked about the Liberals' infamous appointment of Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski. The question was:

...will the government at least...commit to a full parliamentary review for all appointees?

Who was that? It was the Prime Minister.

Now we have had barely 45 minutes of committee questions before the Liberals and Conservatives stood together and wilfully ignored the concerns of experts and advocates. Was that 45 minutes really the full parliamentary review the Prime Minister once promised?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, the Privacy Commissioner is a person with over 30 years' experience in legal and privacy matters. He comes from a field of highly qualified candidates, and he was the best candidate.

It will be interesting to see, as question period progresses, whether NDP members will repeat what they did yesterday when they had one round of questions decrying the selection of the Privacy Commissioner and another round of questions asking why we did not listen to the Privacy Commissioner. I would like to see what sort of mail-outs they are going to have on that one.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a big difference between the Daniel Therrien who seems to have developed a sudden passion for human rights and the one who defended security certificates, deporting people to countries that practise torture and sharing information with the NSA.

This is another example of the Prime Minister's amateur approach. Why have the Conservatives, old Reformers, lost all respect for individual freedoms?