I understand what Mr. Woodworth has explained to us. He would like the environmental burden, so, for example, the environmental costs of a particularly polluting industry, be shared consistently among all Canadians.
But, in reality, when there is an industrial sector present or when a province makes strategic choices, we cannot, under the guise of environmental justice, want to divide up the costs of its choices to all provinces and Canadians. A principle must apply at any given time. When we make economic choices, we must take into account the consequences and cost of those choices.
As I read it, the burden is clear. The principle of environmental justice is the "principle that there should be a just and consistent distribution of environmental benefits and burdens among Canadians".
If that was the case, it would mean that the people in Newfoundland should pay for the environmental damage and costs created by operating the oil sands. Fairness is one thing. But consistency of the burden goes against the recognized fundamental principle, the polluter pays principle. If the people in Newfoundland want to cover the environmental costs created by operating the oil sands out west, that's their choice, but it certainly isn't Quebec's.
We do not believe that this principle of environmental justice should take into account the consistency of the burden.