Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I support the amendment proposed by my colleague Mr. Kram, as he has succinctly expressed the problem we’re all facing. As my colleague Mr. Perkins, who lives where the stakes are highest, so aptly explained, it demonstrates quite clearly that the government has regrettably halted an extraordinarily positive drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Worse still, it’s a Canadian project that has unfortunately been nipped in the bud by the government’s attitude.
I’d like to reiterate that we’re all united in the desire to reduce pollution and face up to the real dangers and problems generated by climate change, which we all recognize. That’s why we need to adopt approaches that are far more pragmatic than ideological, and solutions that deliver real results, rather than ideological debates and radical rhetoric. Instead, we need concrete measures that deliver real results.
That is precisely what the leader of the official opposition expressed in his landmark speech in Quebec City on September 8. Indeed, he made it clear that we need to make real, strong changes and adopt a much more positive approach to countering the effects of climate change. These measures must be based on three flagship elements, which guide us in our actions, as articulated in the Quebec City speech on September 8.
First, we need to invest in new technologies. That’s exactly what this project is about: tidal energy. Let me explain. About ten years ago, in Quebec, we wanted to set up a project to create energy from the tides. But the project didn’t work, because Quebec’s tides aren’t powerful enough. We tried, but it didn’t work. It did, however, advance science and technology. It led to the results we’ve seen in Nova Scotia. So we need to invest in new technologies. That’s exactly what we’re talking about here.
The second pillar of action mentioned in the Quebec City speech is that we need to give green energy the green light. That’s essential. We need more and more energy sources based on a clean environment. We all agree on that. Last week, I had the opportunity to explain at length the history of the Quebec advantage in hydroelectricity. In the 1950s, well-informed people and governments enabled the extraordinary deployment of Quebec’s hydroelectric potential. I won’t go back over what I’ve already said about the Bersimis, Rivière aux Outardes and Manicouagan power plants. In any case, the historical reality is that Quebec today has exceptional hydroelectric power and should be a source of inspiration to us all. As Mr. Perkins so eloquently explained earlier, Sustainable Marine Energy’s technology would enable us to produce green energy that would benefit everyone. So we need to give green energy the green light, not the red light as the government has sadly done.
The third pillar expressed by the leader of the official opposition during his notable speech in Quebec City on September 8 is that we should be proud of Canadian know-how. We need to export it, but first we need to apply it to our natural resources, among other things. Natural resources are obviously part of the concept, and have a direct bearing on tidal power. As I said earlier, Quebec tried these technologies ten or fifteen years ago, but they didn’t work, because we don’t have the necessary potential. Perhaps we’ll find places where we can really exploit the full potential of tidal energy. The Bay of Fundy, as Mr. Perkins, a local citizen, so eloquently explained, has the most powerful tides in Canada. They attract worldwide attention. Technologies that were tried but didn’t work were refined. It got to the point where the new technology applied in this project made it profitable. The project was profitable in its own right, without the need for a tax. That’s the unfortunate thing about this situation. This project was always going in circles, stymied and red-taped, instead of being acted upon in a concrete, realistic and responsible way, with a view to taking action, completing the project and achieving tangible results. Regrettably, we failed.
I’d like to reiterate that, in our view, climate change is real, and we need to implement concrete measures to tackle the real problems it creates. This includes innovation and new technologies. We also need to give green energy the green light. What’s more, Canada has all the resources it needs to fully exploit its energy potential. If we don’t, other countries will, and they won’t all have the same ethical and environmental standards as we Canadians do.
It’s a shame that such a wonderful project has been shelved due to the government’s unwillingness to make it happen.