Mr. Moffet, we are not to blame if a bill to amend the environment legislation is before the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food. The government opted for this course of action.
In terms of the social and environmental impact, I think we can look to other countries for examples. Heaven help us if similar things happen here in Canada. Clearly, there are social and environmental repercussions when countries decide to cut down forests to plant crops that will be used to produce biofuels and when entire populations are displaced. The entire ecosystem is thrown off balance by decisions like this. I'm not saying that this catastrophic scenario will play out here, but our party is asking that the government be allowed to go a step further when projects are proposed. It is critical that it have a idea of all possible repercussions if questions were to arise.
The current bill is vague. This amendment, however, clearly spells out the types of requests that the minister can make. I think it is an advantage for any government. I will never be the federal agriculture and agri-food minister, but perhaps some of my colleagues at the table will hold that office one day.