Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in debate on what I feel is a very important topic. I would like to add a few words of insight to this particular issue.
This debate illustrates, among other things, what is wrong with this Parliament and the process. We end up with certain lobby groups making strong presentations to those people who are in the decision making loop of the government. We stand here in the House and debate these issues. I know that members on both sides have entered into the debate, but those on this side of the House who have tried to appeal for an independent scientific inquiry are really not getting anywhere. We can keep debating and putting words on the record, but they will not be heard because those who are making the decisions are not hearing the words of the debate. They are not paying attention and probably will not respond to the reasoned arguments.
I would also like to use this opportunity to appeal once again to the members of the governing party, the Liberals, to simply vote the way they believe they ought to vote on this. Perhaps on this issue they should reject the party discipline to which they always bow down. It seems reasonable to me that what we ought to do in this instance is to have some truly independent scientific studies done and find the results of those.
Right now, the messages we are hearing from the opposing lobby groups are not defensible on either side; that is, both of the sides are presenting data but it is very biased because it comes from those who have a large and vested interest in it.
What we need is an independent study from someone who has no vested interest in the outcome at all to decide whether or not the use of MMT in fuels is dangerous to health and damaging to vehicles.
I want to relate a story because of my own experience. I happen to be one who works with people all the time. In my previous life I was an instructor working with fellow instructors and students. My recreation on Saturday included putting on my work clothes and doing my own mechanical work. Over the years I always did my own vehicle servicing: oil changes, lube jobs, and some minor and sometimes major mechanical work. I used to love getting out my tools on Saturday and doing mechanical work.
I need to tell members that two days after the vote on the Charlottetown accord, a day I will never forget, I was in my vehicle, a miniature car, and was in a bone-crunching accident. Fortunately all the factors came out right and I was not seriously injured. However, my mini vehicle was totalled. I guess I could use the name because I am not going to say anything bad about it. I am very grateful that it collapsed in the front and in the rear and because I was in the middle, as snug as a bug in the rug, I was unharmed.
Just in case anyone thinks I am a dangerous driver, I was stopped at stop light in a line of vehicles and the person behind me hit my car at some 70 kilometres an hour and jammed my car into the vehicles in front of me. I was just sitting in the line and totally innocent of the accident. However, I was saved because of various factors which I will not go into.
However, as a result of that accident I went to purchase a replacement vehicle. I bought a small vehicle again because of their economy and low fuel usage. I always argued that if I put a small amount of fuel into the tank because the vehicle is very fuel efficient, then I produce less polluting elements into the atmosphere and thus I am doing my part as a citizen.
I purchased that vehicle new in the fall of 1992. I drove it for a long time. It was an excellent vehicle. I only changed the oil, added gasoline and occasionally washed it. I had 75,000 kilometres on that car without ever having touched the motor.
Just as a matter of course I thought that I should change the spark plugs in the vehicle. I never had a vehicle that went that long without changing the spark plugs. I purchased a new set of spark plugs and on a Saturday morning I pulled out the old ones and I was going to replace them. After 75,000 kilometres of travel on that vehicle those spark plugs looked like new. I merely scraped them a little, regapped them and put them back into the motor and ran them until 100,000 kilometres at which time I did change them just because it was time. Even then they were not fouled.
That is a single example, but logically speaking that example is sufficient. If someone makes the declaration that the presence of MMT fouls up spark plugs, then for spark plugs to remained unfouled would be an exceptional instance. We have MMT in our fuel right now. In the Edmonton area we have had it for years. I have used that additive and this has been my experience. I know of no one who has complained of fouled up spark plugs. Consequently, I can only argue logically that if a statement is made it is sufficient to show but one counter example to refute the argument.
As a result of this and because of personal experience, I have very serious questions about the validity of the so-called scientific studies which say that spark plugs will foul. I have seen the pictures. I have seen the same presentations where it is claimed that after 20,000 kilometres the plugs are so fouled up that they no long function. That is certainly the opposite of my experience.
I appeal to members of the government. We are merely bowing to lobby and pressure groups. That is not the correct way to make decision. Decisions ought to be made on clearly demonstrable, independently provable scientific evidence. We need to get those with a vested interest out of it, even though they are certainly entitled to present their studies and conclusions. We need to make our decisions based on independent scientific studies. I call for that.
It is most important that this bill be defeated at this time until there is actual reliable evidence received. At that time the decision can be made wisely, not just on emotional reactions based on which lobby group speaks the loudest. That is my submission to this debate. I think it is an important one. I appeal to members to hear what I have said and pass it along to the decision-makers who will soon be calling on members to stand and vote on call.
I am speaking collectively here. Why not make our decisions logically instead of simply obeying, on command, what we are told to do.