Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Hyer, my congratulations for introducing your bill.
When I arrived in Parliament 12 years ago, we were a long way from discussing the importance of having a climate change plan. I remember debates in the House where people were wondering whether climate change was real and whether human activity was primarily responsible for it. In 1997, some members believed that it was a natural phenomenon that was in no way related to human activity.
Today, fortunately, the House is almost unanimous. All parties believe that climate change exists. The problem is deciding how to deal with it. I have taken part in a number of international conferences and a number of debates in the House. Often, I feel, the problem comes from reduction targets. That is the problem. There is no agreement on greenhouse gas reduction targets. I know that it is a problem for the Liberal party and for the Conservative party too.
Could you remind us why you indicated in the bill that you want a 25% reduction below 1990 levels of greenhouse gases by 2020? That is no arbitrary target, after all. You do not put percentages in a hat and pull one out.
Why must we clearly indicate to the international community that Canada is committed to a 25% reduction below 1990 greenhouse gas levels by 2020. What are the scientific reasons, to start with?