Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. He draws attention to the fact that this legislation affects virtually every Canadian. In addition to its improvement of the environment, it affects the health of us all.
Every person who has a car or a truck is affected by this legislation. These onboard diagnostic systems which we are discussing and which manufacturers tell us are directly affected by MMT in gasoline add a great deal to the cost of a car.
If the manufacturers fail to hook up the systems, the cost of the car will be the same but Canadian drivers will not have the benefit of those expensive systems although they have paid for them. Even more, they will not have the benefits of the improvement in the environment which will result from proper monitoring throughout the year, day in, day out, every driving hour, the emissions from their vehicle.
I find it unfortunate, given that the federal government allowed the petroleum industry and the automobile industry a very considerable time to come together and discuss this matter. It is very unfortunate that the member opposite reduces this argument to a battle between the petroleum industry which this government supports and Canadians. This is simply not the case.
The petroleum industry in the United States adapted to the ban on MMT very quickly. It has the technology to do that. The larger part of the petroleum industry on this continent has been producing gasoline without MMT in it.
It is extremely unfortunate that the member opposite makes this argument on the basis of these large petroleum corporations that already have the technology to take the MMT out and simply bring Canada in line with what has been the norm on this continent for many years.