Environment Committee on Nov. 28th, 2006

[Matthew Bramley]

I simply fail to see the relevance of the question. Bill C-288 is about meeting the Kyoto targets--

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

That was a yes or no question, Mr. Bramley.

[Matthew Bramley]

--using all the mechanisms that Kyoto provides for. It's just an irrelevant question.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Bramley--

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Could you please direct it through the chair?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, my question was a yes or no question. I don't want Mr. Bramley using my time, so if he's refusing to answer the question, that's fine.

Maybe we could start with Mr. Dillon, then. Can we meet those targets, yes or no?

[John Dillon]

No. Strictly through domestic measures, we can't.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you.

Ms. Anthony, can we meet those targets?

[Nancy Hughes Anthony]

I think under some estimates you could meet those targets if you reduced economic activity in this country by something like 30% over the next five years--

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

In a practical sense--

[Nancy Hughes Anthony]

--if we closed down factories and power plants, etc.--

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Ms. Anthony, I don't want to cut anybody off, but I was hoping for a yes or a no, okay?

[Nancy Hughes Anthony]

The answer is no, not without serious damage--

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Bramley, I don't think you wanted to answer that.

Ms. Comeau, can we meet those targets?

[Louise Comeau]

Yes, we can.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

We can. Okay, how can we meet it in Canada? What's your opinion?

[Louise Comeau]

You set your target, you establish a proper economy-wide cap-and-trade system, and you allow the private sector, through its domestic and international opportunities, to meet its objectives. Yes, you can.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Okay. Thank you for that. Actually, you're the first one to say yes to the committee. We have had, to this point, a no from everyone I've asked that question to. We've had a couple of “I don't knows”, but you're the first one.... So congratulations.

We actually had comments specifically regarding Bill C-288 from Claude Villeneuve, a professor with the University of Quebec. He said it would have been an excellent bill if it would have been introduced in 1998, and we're in 2006 believing that it's not relevant.

Actually, Mr. Bramley, I'm quite happy that you're here today. I was watching the news late one night and there you were. You made a comment that grabbed my attention and I wrote it down. I found it shocking and I found it dishonest. That's why I'm glad you're here, so that I can ask this question of you.

You said at that time, I believe, that Canada had abandoned the Kyoto Protocol. Is that correct? Did you say that?

[Matthew Bramley]

I've said many times that for practical purposes I believe the Government of Canada has abandoned Kyoto, because Kyoto is, above all, about meeting the emissions target. I believe the actions the government has taken and the statements it has made in the past several months make it clear that the government has no intention of meeting that target.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Okay, thank you.

You also said today that Pembina is non-partisan and you said that you strongly support Bill C-288. Are you speaking for yourself or for Pembina?

[Matthew Bramley]

No, the Pembina Institute and in fact--

[Louise Comeau]

All environment groups.

[Matthew Bramley]

I think all of the members of Climate Action Network Canada are strong supporters of Bill C-288. To suggest that is partisan--

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

You also said it needs strong leadership and we need to move as quickly as possible.

[Matthew Bramley]

Yes.