So I really strongly urge my Liberal colleagues across the way to stop and think for a moment. I know there is a competition going on between the Liberals and the NDP for a certain left-wing vote that they both think they need, but the reality is that if this provision, if this act, in fact, doesn't balance the issues of cost-effectiveness and economic development with environmental protection in the way that Canada has traditionally approached environmental matters, if this act passes without that kind of a balance, the chickens may some day come home to roost under a Liberal government. For that matter, regardless of who is governing the country, there are going to be problems for Canadians.
We all do have an interest in environmental protection, but we also have an interest in being cost-effective and an interest in being balanced in terms of economic development. Remember that every house we build damages the environment. Every car we put on the road damages the environment. So unless we want to go back to living in igloos and mushing on dogsleds, we do have to do things in a sustainable way and balance cost-effectively environmental protection and economic development. This is just common sense and the responsible approach, and I think it would be a shame if the Conservative Party were the only party to take a common sense, responsible approach to this bill.
Now, had we earlier done something to say that interest meant legal interest only, which is what I think originally this clause probably started out to say, then this point wouldn't arise. But since we currently have a clause that talks about an interest generally, I just want to, as strongly as I can, urge at least the Liberals across the way to take a responsible approach and include some recognition and some acknowledgement that cost-effectiveness and economic development need to be balanced with environmental protection.
I don't mean to leave out the Bloc Québécois, but I know they have no interest in governing Canada and no particular concern for Canadians generally.